At least Nicole had an own car, some nice small new Honda in red color.
Nicole gripped the steering wheel tightly as she pulled out of the driveway, feeling anxious and curious about what the day would bring. The unfamiliar weightlessness in her chest and the strange sensation between her legs were constant reminders of the body she was now inhabiting.
Nicole pulled into the school parking lot, her eyes darting around as she took in the familiar school grounds. Everything looked the same as it had when Cole attended, but somehow, it all felt so different now. The students, the buildings, the atmosphere... it was all the same. But she was different now. She was in a different body, living a different life.
Amanda, Cole's ex-girlfriend, spotted Nicole across the parking lot and smiled. She waved, gesturing for Nicole to join her. As Nicole approached, Amanda's smile widened. "Hey girl, I feel like it's been forever. How was your weekend?"
A shiver ran down Nicole's spine as Amanda referred to her as "girl." It felt wrong, uncomfortable. She wasn't used to being seen as a girl, and the thought of it was disconcerting. But she knew she had to play the part in order to avoid suspicion. With a forced smile, she said, "My weekend was fine, thanks. How was yours?"
Amanda sighed heavily, leaning against her car. "To be honest, my weekend kinda sucked," she said. "You know I broke up with Cole, right?
Nicole nodded, attempting to feign a sympathetic expression. "Yeah, I heard about that. I'm sorry to hear it." The words felt foreign coming out of her mouth, but she knew she had to play the role of the supportive friend.
Nicole took a moment to gather her courage before asking, "Can I ask, what happened between you guys? If it's too personal, that's fine, I was just curious." She held her breath, waiting for Amanda's response. Maybe there was some way she could find to reverse this strange situation and get back to her old life.