A girl from your neighborhood

Chapter 1

You are not the most imposing person you know, but there are people who are breathless at the sight of you. Lynn Moore is such a person and you have often seen her petite body pause in a doorway when she has noticed you. Even now, knowing you're in the room, she stands rooted to the doorframe, nervously peering into the room.

"Hello," she says, smiling happily at you with difficulties holding your gaze.

"Hey Lynn" you return the greeting and sit up straight in bed. "Come on in."

"Can I co... thanks." Quickly, the girl darts into the room and comes to your bedside. She clasps your hand and squeezes it tightly with her dainty fingers while an overjoyed smile spreads across her lips. "How are you?" she blurts out. You wiggle your head.

"I'm okay," you mean. The truth is you don't really know what's happening to you. But Lynn is such a sweet girl, you don't want to scare her. She just turned eighteen a few weeks ago and invited you to her birthday party as the only boy. Her friends thought it was funny but you just smiled nicely at that.

Lynn is the youngest daughter of your neighbor's family and the only person who is really interested in you. It is clear to everyone that she has a crush on you, but so far you have been able to ward it off with her age. Then you could keep her away from you because you were physically miserable. But now she doesn't seem to be able to stand it anymore and you don't even ask how she managed to get past the nurses at the reception. With her deep, moist eyes and adorable pout, Lynn would surely make it to Area 51. Unfortunately for Lynn, the feelings she has for you are not really mutual. It's not her fault, or yours. You're just a boy, unfortunately, and like all other boys at your school, you've fallen for her big sister. Noelle Moore is the biggest crush of your life, even though you know you'll never have what it takes to date the most beautiful and hottest cheerleader in school. So just as you know your heart is attached to something unattainable, Lynn's heart is attached to you unattainably. But you don't want to break it for her, and so you've been trying for a long time to find a balance between keeping her with you and being close to Noelle. Lynn has even helped you with this many times but so far Noelle has not responded to you.

Now her little sister is standing perkily in front of your bed, looking at you with her lips pressed together in excitement. Her petite fingers barely stick out of the large sweatshirt she so often wears, hiding her body from view but unable to do anything to calm her nervous fingers. Her school bag looks huge on her. The girl has recently started going to the same school as you.

"Have a seat," you say kindly, and Doris jumps up to pull a chair out for Lynn. You introduce the two of them and Lynn frowns as Doris explains that she is only responsible for you, but you just wave it off. It seems Lynn listens to you and lets the matter rest, and as Doris moves back to your side, the girl sits on the chair with her hands folded in her lap. "But why are you here anyway?" you want to know.

"I wanted to see you," says your little groupie a little too enthusiastically and bites her lips. She knows how far she can go with you before you have to slow her down but this time she's overdone it again. "A-And I'm supposed to say hi to you from Noelle" she mumbles and looks down. Now it's you who's crossing the line.

"Really?" you ask excitedly.

"No," Lynn replies, shaking her head. Then her eyes get big. "I mean... no, she didn't. I mean..." She wonders. "E-excuse me...I don't know why I said that." Apparently she wanted to get on your good side by mentioning her prettier, better, more successful sister.

"It's okay," you grumble, but see that Lynn looks crestfallen. She must think she's disappointed you. But you're just disappointed that no one cares about you.

"It's okay honey," Doris says from the side and hugs Lynn tightly. She looks at you questioningly from the hug and wonders about the nurse's behavior. It gets weirder, though. "It's quite normal to feel weak and insecure around him."

"Yeah that... wait what?" But your question is obviously overheard.

"Right..." murmurs Lynn into the embrace. "Do you feel it too?" Your eyes almost fall out of your head and you don't understand the world anymore. But Doris nods.

"Yes. But then he told me to bring him food and so I found my purpose." You look at the two girls speechless and when Doris notices your look she looks at you worried. "Did I say something wrong?" she asks, putting her hands over her mouth. "Don't you want this girl to serve you?" Lynn looks at you worriedly while your brain just melts.

"Please Finn..." whines Lynn, bouncing up and down excitedly in Dori's embrace. "Then I'd finally feel useful for you." Your jaw hits your chest and you get hot in your airy hospital gown. Lynn looks at you hopefully, and Doris beams with happiness. What have you done? You look down at your hands. Something is very wrong here. Yes, Lynn has always been attracted to you, but why is she shouting it to the world now? And Doris... It seems like she's really only being helpful to you.

"Girl... I don't know..."

"Please Finn," Lynn whines again. "Let me be there for you. I know you want me to. I..." Her eyes dart searchingly around the room. "I could make your bed... Or bring you food so Doris can stay with you. Or I could give you a massage! Please Finn let me be there for you." Youthful eagerness radiates from her movements and she seems genuinely happy. But you're afraid you're about to die again if this game doesn't stop.

"Lynn, Doris...can you leave me alone for a minute? Please?" Lynn's expression collapses to the floor broken into a thousand pieces but Doris takes her by the hand.

"Come with me, honey. If that's what Finn wants us to do then we'll do it for him."

"Can I stay with you after?" the schoolgirl asks but Doris has already led her out of the room, but not without Lynn giving you another longing look.

"Okay... Okay... Take it easy... Shit... Okay..." You rub your hands over your face. "What was that?" But the answer is pretty clear. Considering Doris' behavior and her words, only one conclusion can be drawn. "But that's crazy!" You look around the room, but don't wake up from that weird dream. "Okay... Take it easy... Shit..." Again, you rub your face and take a deep breath. You're not that kind of person others rally around. You're not the kind of person others like to be around. You're mostly alone, pining after girls you can never reach. And then you died. "No great loss." Or is it? For Lynn, sure. "And Doris..." No, it can't be. You swing out of bed and wander around the room. At one corner, a door leads into a small bathroom. The best would be you rinse the insane ideas from your face with cold water.

"Holy shit!" Immediately Doris and Lynn rush back into the room. They were actually waiting for you outside.

"What happened?" exclaims Doris, startled, and she sees you. You're standing naked in the doorway to the small bathroom.

"What do you mean 'What happened?'" you nag in a shrill voice. "Look at me!" The person looking at you in the mirror after you splashed water on your face was you, just not quite. Your face seemed somehow... different. Astonished, you pulled down your hospital shirt and freaked out. Your body is steeled and muscled to a degree that makes you look like a fucking Greek god... and...

"Wow Finn..." breaths Lynn, letting her eyes wander between your legs. With a girlish scream, you hold your hands in front of your privates, which is futile considering the size. Lynn gets enough of a look.

"What's going on here?" you yell again. "Get out! Both of you out!" The girls turn on the spot and literally fly out of the room while you slam the door to the hallway and sink back against it. Now you can't push it away. Something... everything has changed. Not just your body. The girls' behavior... You look up at the unadorned ceiling of the room. It's useless to rack your brain how all this happened or why. What you know... What you know to believe is that you can make a difference. People respond to your words.

You should be worried about it, confused. But you're not. A bigger man might think so. A stronger man. But you're big enough and strong enough to know that right now you're only thinking about Noelle... and Lynn, too... and Doris... You grin. "And all the other girls." A wiser man might worry. But you're Finn Lynchwood. You haven't had a super life and so you haven't had the prerequisite experiences and above all the responsibility to be a good role model. No. That comes later... maybe. Right now, you're mostly curious.

"Doris, Lynn?" Slowly the door opens and the two poke their heads through the crack like children wanting to see Santa. "Come in, please." No need to be rude. You rise and put your robe back on. Lynn pouts and nibbles on her lower lip while Doris nervously scuffles her feet. But neither does anything to stop you as you close the door behind them and push them into the center of the room. "I'm sorry I freaked out like that," you say, "Doris, did you notice anything different about my body when I was brought in? And Lynn, did you notice any difference at all from the way I looked before?" They both shake their heads slowly as if they don't know what's going on. You nod. "Okay."

"Finn, what's wrong?" wants Doris to know with concern. "Is there anything we can do to help you?"

"You're scaring me," Lynn agrees, hesitantly taking a step toward you. She has never acted like this before. Yes she was needy but not in that submissive way. You frown.

"Doris, the doctor said I could decide for myself when I would be released?" She nods.

"Can I stay with you until that time comes?" You see the worry in her gaze that you might leave her. Her need to stay with you helps you answer your first question.

"Yes you may. In fact, I need you." It's like you've given Doris a million dollars. First she is unbelieving, then she almost bursts with joy and hugs you. Over and over she thanks you and rubs her body against you while Lynn stands in the corner wanting to curl up in her big sweatshirt. "I need you to help me clear up a few questions."

"Can I do something too Finn?" murmurs Lynn feeling left alone. You pull away from Doris and put an arm around the small slender girl.

"I need your help too Lynn." She looks up your body at you. "You're going to have to be really strong for this, okay?" You're worried Lynn won't like your plan.

"For you, always," she says, smiling.

"You have to give me some time alone with Doris." Her face flickers but she stays strong "A few days maybe, okay?" She nods dejectedly and you hug her to you, careful not to **** your new physical strength. "I don't want to get rid of you Lynn, I like you too much for that. But I need you to get some things ready in town as soon as I get out of here."

"Noelle?" she just asks and you nod.

"She too." Then you explain what you want her to do. "Can you do that for me?" Lynn takes a deep breath, tightens up and looks at you out of her bright eyes.

"I can do it," she says firmly, clenching her fingers into fists in her long sleeves. It's a clear sign that you're starting to feel comfortable in your skin as you kiss her on the forehead and squeeze again before, under her bright eyes, you have Doris enter her cell phone number into your phone. Then you push her gently out of the room and are alone with Doris. The nurse fiddles with her gown as you turn to her.

"What can I do for you, Finn?" she asks. You don't answer but her eyes sparkle as your hospital gown begins to slide over your muscular shoulders.