Make my way to Lisa’s

Sometime later, utterly saturated by a storm of digital media, I looked at the clock - 7:28 PM. Lisa would be expecting me shortly. The question was what exactly she was “expecting” me to do while there? In all the time I had known Lisa, she had never asked me over to her dorm, so obviously this invitation was part of my earlier twisting of reality to make it normal for me to shower with her in the locker room. And Mark’s insistence that I not be late was just further evidence of this. What sane man would want his hot girlfriend hanging out alone in her dorm room with another guy? Only in a twisted reality would Mark be consenting to - no, consenting was the wrong word - he was actually encouraging this.

I got up, stretched, and moved out from the haven of my room, feeling as if the normalcy I had enjoyed there had all been lost. It was a shivering effect.

Mark looked up from his book as I entered the shared space. He was now lounging across our sofa, earbuds blaring music into his ears as he sang along softly, completely unbothered by the sight of me fumbling to put on my shoes.

"I'm heading over to Lisa's," I called out. He gave me a thumbs up and thanked me again for taking care of his girl. It was just so completely ludicrous that this was even happening.

As I exited the Williams Building, I found a Roosevelt College which was absolutely beautiful in the evening; the red-brick buildings were bathed in the hues of the setting sun, their facades glowing amidst the lush greenery scattered across the campus.

The Shelly Building, where the girl’s dorms were located, soon stood tall against the evening sky - an inviting sanctuary amidst the chaos of fantasies and surreal propositions that had become my life at the college.

As I stood before the doorway to the building, I thought back to Justin’s words from earlier today: “Just let things happen naturally.” Although he had given that advice in a context unrelated to changing reality, I had embraced it nevertheless when I manifested Ariana Grande in place of Professor Katz. This time however I would embrace it without actually using my powers. I would just let the night progress without any mystical interference. I would help Lisa choose an outfit for tonight's party. Not because I felt obligated or because it was expected of me but because it was something I wanted to do. I’d have to be nuts not to want an opportunity like this. To be alone with Lisa, in her dorm room, watching her try on hot outfits and doing whatever else might happen there. This was every guy’s fantasy.

My footsteps echoed with determination as I marched towards the building, my newfound sense of purpose propelling me forward. As I approached the security desk, I was met by a young but intimidating female security officer. The name "S. Jenkins" was emblazoned on her uniform's name tag, sending a chill down my spine. She eyed me coldly, and I could feel the weight of her authority pressing down on me. Being someone who wasn’t exactly popular with women, prior to this morning anyway, I had never actually been inside the Shelly Building before, and I wondered if “S. Jenkins” was about to keep that streak intact. I approached her desk with caution.

"Can I help you?" Her voice was sharp, almost a challenge.

"I'm here to see Lisa Davis," I replied, trying to hold her gaze but faltering a bit.

"Lisa Davis?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow. It felt like a test and I realized with a jolt that she knew exactly who Lisa was - everyone on campus did. Lisa's radiant beauty and magnetic personality had that effect on people.

I nodded vigorously. "Yes, that’s right."

As she stared at me, her eyes narrowed into slits that seemed to pierce into my very soul. I could practically feel her dissecting me, searching for any signs of deceit or ulterior motives. An eternity passed in that moment as my heart thundered in my chest, the sound deafening in my ears.

Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, she leaned back and let out an ominous laugh. The hair on the back of my neck stood up as she casually leaned against the desk, arms crossed over her chest like a predator ready to strike.

"You know," she said with a malicious glint in her eye, "I've never seen any guy come through here as often as you do. Makes me wonder just what kind of game you're playing."

I blinked at her. Yes, I had altered reality, but I was sure I hadn't included regular visits to the female dorms...had I? "I haven't been..."

She cut me off with another chuckle, a twinkle in her sharp brown eyes. "Relax, James," she said warmly and winked just for added effect. "I'm messing with you. You usually don’t stop by the desk to check in, so I couldn’t resist.”

Heat crawled up my neck as I stammered for a response. "...Right, I... uh, guess I'm just not used to checking in." I was also surprised that she knew who I was.

With a smirk, she waved me off. "That's because you don’t have to check in. Anyway, head on up, I’m sure Ms. Davis is waiting for you."

Sweating and shaking slightly from the unexpected encounter, I made my way towards the elevator. As the doors opened, I heard Officer Jenkins call to me from her desk “Oh and James, normally I remind every guy who checks in that male visiting hours end at 10. But obviously that doesn’t apply to you either. Have fun!”

“Thanks,” I nervously responded as I stepped in tentatively, pondering over Officer Jenkins' words. Since even before my newfound powers had been discovered, I had always done everything by the book, afraid of bending any rules and earning any unnecessary attention. Visiting Lisa's dorm room was one thing - but having unchecked access to an all-female dormitory? That was inconceivable. Then again, I had already experienced unchecked access to the Women’s locker room, so why was this new revelation even remotely shocking to me.

Had Officer Jenkins' been the first to make me question my altered reality? No… that wasn’t right. Nobody was questioning anything. I was the only one in a constant state of doubt and fear of being found out when there was absolutely no reason for that fear to exist. I really needed to stop doubting myself. Just let it happen ‘naturally’ James … ‘naturally’.