Making Up The Rules

"Okay, let's go for our walk by the river" you suggest to your no longer intimidatingly beautiful, to everyone else at least, friend.

"I don't want to anymore, you're being a jerk" she replies folding her arms "If you aren't going to fix this then drive me home"

It is almost impressive how Maisie is still convinced she gets to call all the shots, even when cursed into your total control.

"Maisie, we are going for a walk by the river together" you reiterate, this time as an official command. She scowls and wordlessly opens the car door, making a point to slam it behind her as she exits your vehicle.

It is hard to believe how different from usual everything feels as you walk together. Perhaps you had never noticed quite how much attention Maisie ordinarily receives, but clearly she was very aware of it.

"I feel like a freak now" she complains.

"You are the exact opposite of that" you point out "As far as everyone else is concerned, you look as mundane and average as anyone else can be"

"But I feel like the invisible woman" she sighs "It's as if nobody even notices me when I am right in front of them. Is that what it's like for you?"

"I think that is what it's like for most people, Maisie" you tell her "There's a bench coming up. Let's sit and talk for a bit"

As you and Maisie settle next to each other in preparation for your conversation, a passing older woman smiles at you both approvingly, obviously thinking you a wholesome young couple spending some quality time together. That feels significant. In all the time you have spent with Maisie over the years, you can't remember anyone ever assuming you were together until now. That has often led to other guys having the gall to approach and hit on her right in front of you. Occasionally they are successful, which is a special kind of agony and indignity for you. But now, you feel like you have her all to yourself.

"I still don't know what the point of this is" Maisie tells you sadly "It's making me really unhappy, like I'm not myself anymore. It isn't just vanity, you have taken away my identity"

"Maisie, putting aside what is happening now, which I promise you won't be permanent, I want you to describe to me honestly how you view our relationship"

This is a question that may be even harder for you to listen to than it will be for Maisie to answer. But you need to know. She frowns a little and begins.

"Our friendship is genuine. We've known each other for as long as we can remember and I am very fond of you. I know you care for me and would never hurt me, which is why I was able to trust you with my secret"

It's a good start, but you know there is more coming. And, since you asked for this, you can't complain if you don't like what you hear.

"As we've grown up together, I've noticed your behaviour towards me change. I feel like you've become besotted, perhaps even unhealthily obsessed with me. You don't show any interest in other women. I have dates, sexual partners, boyfriends, and you seem to just wait around to spend any time you can with me when I'm not with them, even with no expectation of anything happening between us. I have indulged in that for a few reasons. Firstly, because the conversation we are having now is extremely awkward and something I would avoid under any normal circumstances. Secondly because that's just how you are with me and the only alternative would be never seeing you. And finally because it is a dynamic I enjoy. You will let me do whatever I want, do anything I tell you, take me anywhere I want to go and put huge amounts of effort into trying to please me and win my approval at all times. I didn't groom you for revealing the curse to, but I always had you in mind as the perfect person to tell. Holly tends to keep people who crush too hard on her at arms length, so she doesn't have anyone she can control like I thought I could with you and I always thought that was a mistake. Honestly though, if I didn't look the way I do, I think our friendship might have faded away by now for the most part. I like you, but the older we get the less we have in common, and I don't think you would bother with me anywhere near as much if you didn't fantasise about us eventually becoming more than friends"

Wow. That was a lot, and it was both heartbreaking and humiliating to listen to. You can't argue with any of it. You are annoyed that Maisie knew of your feelings towards her and used them to her advantage. But deep down you always suspected as much, and it never stopped you. It is also pretty clear you have been using her as well all this time, just in a far more impotent way.

Maisie is looking at you with concern, waiting to see how you respond. She didn't want to say any of that. You decide you are going to be pragmatic, to try and use this information and your new powers to redefine your relationship with Maisie in a way that isn't morally reprehensible but could nudge her towards viewing you in a different light. Because you probably are unhealthily obsessed with her. And other women don't interest you that much. And you do still fantasise about becoming more than friends with her.

You need to set some conditions Maisie must meet before you allow her to be seen again by everyone else the way she still is by you. They need to favour you heavily without seeming absurdly self serving. And you need to come up with them pretty much on the spot.