Chapter Four- Gender Views

"Hey, Alexis!"

Both siblings turned to see Mindy and Jasmine approaching. Atticus released Alexis' hand and said, "I'll see you later, sis." He walked away, leaving Alexis with her friends. "Uh, hi girls," she said.

"Is it really true?" Jasmine asked. "Atticus is becoming a girl?" Her eyes looked at the brunette who left.

"It's true. He's already gone from being girl-crazy to boy-crazy."

"Really?" Jasmine asked. "That's all?"

"He found the necklace Saturday afternoon and his interest to boys instead of girls surfaced Sunday afternoon. I learned of the necklace's power last night."

"Oh. So, it's just starting."

"I think he's expressing more emotions. He was embarrassed just now and it took my squeezing his hand to get him to stop blushing."

"He was blushing? Oh, that's cute," Mindy commented with a squeal.

"How can we help?" Jasmine asked.

"Talk with him and answer any questions he might have. After all, he's going to be one of us."

Atticus strolled along the docks and soon found himself at the spot where Zane liked to go to think. He stood there, staring at the water. He reflected on his blushing and embarrassment and decided that he was indeed becoming more emotional. Well, emotional reactions are normal for girls and less so for guys. This is getting scary and strange; thinking like a girl before physically becoming one, that is. But, I can't fight the changes going on in my head. The more feminine my mind becomes, the less the fighting will be as I will consider my female thoughts and actions to be normal.

"Atticus?"

The brunette turned to see his best friend approach and stand beside him. "Oh, hi Zane."

There was silence for a couple of minutes before Zane spoke again. "I'm sorry you're going through this."

"Believe me, it was a surprise when I found out last night."

"Sheppard said you're already thinking differently. What did he mean by that?"

"Actually, Lexi and I didn't specify to him how I was thinking. My interest in girls has switched to boys. I, I've also developed a crush." Atticus blushed again, unable to help it.

Zane stared at Atticus' red cheeks. He's getting more emotional than what's normal for him. "A crush?" he repeated. "Who's the lucky guy?"

Atticus blushed harder and focused on the water. "It's…it's you, Zane. I, I think you're cute."

"Atticus…I'm flattered but I don't like…Oh, I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Atticus looked up, all blush gone.

"I was going to say that I don't like guys, but then I remembered that you'll be a girl soon. I'm not sure how I feel toward you right now. Perhaps, we can discuss it after you complete your change."

Atticus nodded. "Agreed." He knew his feelings for Zane would only get stronger as his transition progressed.

Both boys left together to head for dinner. As Atticus entered the cafeteria, he wondered if he should sit with the boys or the girls. He got his dinner and looked around. He caught the eyes of his friends and was about to join them when he stopped. They were looking at him with suspicion and…betrayal? Do they think I did this on purpose? I didn't know this would happen when I first put it on. He felt confused and hurt by the looks in their eyes and toyed with going over and setting them straight.

"Hey, Atticus! Over here!"

Atticus looked in the direction of the voice to see Mindy standing and waving an arm. Pleased that someone wanted him to sit with them, he headed toward Mindy who was sitting with Jasmine, Alexis, and other Obelisk girls some of whom he recognized. There were some smiles as he sat and he responded in turn.

"Doing okay, Atticus?" one girl asked.

"I'm…not sure. I'm a little confused and hurt about why my friends," he tilted his head toward them. "are acting like I did this on purpose. I just thought it was a cool piece of jewelry."

"It is pretty," Mindy said, admiring it up close for the first time. "Maybe they don't really know how to feel about the whole thing and are covering it up by being cold to you."

"Yeah, maybe. So, how do you girls feel about this?"

"Well, it is a little weird," another girl admitted. "I mean, you're still a guy but you're starting to think like a girl. Of course, we'll get used to it and eventually, you'll be a girl."

Atticus nodded. "You're right." There was silence as they ate some of their dinner before Atticus said to some girls his age, "Any of you notice Josh from today's Traps class?"

"Oh, yeah," one answered. "He has the best smile." She sighed dreamily. "But Lionel's hair was really nice, especially today."

"I agree," Atticus said. "You like him?"

"I do." She blushed. "I'd like to invite him to the roof to talk or maybe the docks, but I don't know."

"You should do that. Lionel's a little bit of a shy guy."

"Oh, I didn't know that. Uh, thanks Atticus. I'll ask him tomorrow. So, have you developed a crush on a guy yet?"

Now it was Atticus' turn to blush. "I, I have. I actually admitted it before dinner. He's not sure how he feels about me and wants to discuss it after I've changed."

"Makes sense. Who do you have a crush on?"

"Uh, Zane."

"Really?" Jasmine asked in surprise. "Your best friend?"

"Yeah. I noticed how cute he was before lunch today."

"Oh, I think you two would make a cute couple."

"A summer romance would be so beautiful," Mindy sighed.

"It would, wouldn't it?" Atticus began imagining a summer of romantic dates, watching his boyfriend duel on the pro circuit, and exploring the depths of their feelings for each other.

Well, Zane knows that I think he's cute. I can hardly wait to find out what he'll think of me once I'm a girl.

Zane had watched Atticus as the brunette got his dinner. He saw him look at guys he had befriended since returning and he looked at them too. The looks in their eyes seemed cold to Zane and Atticus clearly noticed. Mindy called him over and as he went to sit with the girls, Zane went to sit with Atticus' guy friends. They seemed honored by his presence until he said, "Aren't you being a bit cold to Atticus?"

"He's going to have new friends," one of them said.

"He's just changing gender. You can still be friends."

"He's already thinking like a girl."

"Not completely," Zane pointed out. "He told me that his interest in girls has switched to boys and he's a bit more emotional than normal, but that's it."

The guys exchanged looks before their eyes lowered to their laps or their plates. Zane sensed they knew he was right. He looked over at Atticus who seemed to be chatting animatedly with the girls. He seems comfortable with them. The creators of the necklace knew what they were doing; changing the mind first helps the person fit in with the opposite gender instead of trying to understand after the physical change. I do wonder what part of Atticus' mind will change next.