Go outside, you have a plan

Chapter 6

"Good morning!" You shout far too loudly into the apartment, already expecting a nasty retort from your roommate, but reaping only silence. Checking, you poke your head into the kitchen and immediately the grin from last night finds its way back onto your face. Cassie is still wearing nothing above the waist and you can admire her bare back while the girl stands at the stove. A white cord winds around her slender neck, suggesting she's wearing an apron, which is confirmed as she turns to face you.

"Good morning," she greets you exuberantly, then points to the white piece of fabric on her body. "I hope it's not against the rules to wear that? The grease in the pan splatters and I'm not much of a cook." She beams at you, warming your heart.

"Actually, I didn't tell you to take your shirt off at all," you say good-humoredly and step into the kitchen. Not that you haven't noticed Jackson sitting at the table and looking at you gloomily, but there are more important things to sort out.

"But you made it very clear to me" Cassie replies, making you think. Do your powers work without you saying anything? Or do you have to say a certain code word? Or just think? Now that you're sure you've been given something big, you have to figure out how to use it. But first... You step behind Cassie and look over her shoulder into the pan. Even she can't spoil your bacon and eggs. And even if she did, the view under her apron into the comforting darkness of her bosom would justify even a nuclear meltdown in the pan.

"That looks fantastic" you smile, placing a hand on her bare shoulder. Behind you, Jackson grunts disapprovingly, but says nothing.

"The food or...me?" Her hair tickles your fingers as she turns her head to look you in the eye. This is how you've usually been with each other, and you're sure you're reacting the same way you always have.

"Why not both?" you ask with a wink. But you're going to have to get used to that gorgeous thing between your legs. With the extra inches, it's significantly harder to hide your obligatory Cassie-is-around-boner. As you sit down at the table Jackson sees it and his eyes grow wide.

"What is it?" you playfully want to know. You actually like Jackson but after everything that's happened to you, it also feels good to be on the other end of the barrel for once.

"Don't you remember?" says Cassie from the stove. You look at her questioningly. "He's supposed to be quiet."

"Shit..." you mutter, "Damn it Jackson, I'm sorry. You're allowed to talk again."

"Thanks..." growls your friend. Something bubbles up inside him, then he looks at you sternly. "Look, I'm happy to help you out in life. But you really need to think more about others when you ask someone for something." You manage to stifle a contemptuous snort, understanding him. Cassie doesn't feel the same way.

"Now don't be like that honey," she chirps from the stove. "I told him yesterday to think more of himself."

"I haven't said a word this whole time," Jackson rightly blurts out, but directs his anger at the wrong person.

"You shouldn't be snapping at Cassie like that" you admonish him with a sternness in your voice that you've always had. New powers or not, no one goes after Cassie Andrews with impunity. Your friend slumps in his chair and you watch anxiously to see what feelings you've brought out in him with your words.

"You're right," he finally says.

"You should apologize to her. It was me who asked you for silence and I thank you for that." Grabbing his girlfriend's tits doesn't matter here.

"Sorry honey," growls the man who must have had twice as many muscles as you. Just a little more now. He's a little bigger too, but that doesn't bother you. Then Jackson turns to you. "I was happy to do you a favor buddy. Everyone knows you don't have it easy in life." That hurts, but it's true. Was, you correct yourself. Past tense. Hopefully.

"No problem," you wave off as Cassie comes to the table with the pan and scoops a portion onto each of your plates. "Oh, Jackson doesn't need bacon," you quickly interrupt her motion. "He's happy to give it to you." Cassie looks to her friend.

"Really? But you love your bacon and eggs."

"I love you more" the boy says, hurting you. At least Cassie gets a bigger portion in return.

"So?" the girl wants to know a moment later. "What's on your agenda today Finn?" You look at her and smile weakly while Cassie nibbles on a piece of Jackson's bacon.

"Stuff," you say, shrugging. "I'm feeling fantastic and finally want to get out. I think I'll try that new diner."

"Heard it's pretty expensive," Jackson says, already looking forward to being alone with his girlfriend this Monday before they go to work. Usually, you leave before them but not today it seems.

"Yeah...about that..." All or nothing. You lean forward slightly, supporting yourself with your elbows. "I would have to ask for your help to get back on my feet. It hasn't exactly been raining money on me lately." Jackson looks at you angrily, but says nothing out of fear you forbid him to speak again. Cassie, on the other hand, reacts as she always does.

"Sounds logical buddy. What do you need?"

"Cassie," Jackson tries anyway. "You can't just give him your money. Finn doesn't pay rent, so he needs to be able to put something aside." He's got a point. But you've been spending all your time taking care of Cassie.

"I would never ask anything of Cassie either," you say, and you mean it. Jackson looks at you questioningly, then shocked, then angry.

"No way!"

"Jackson. Honey. Come on" his girlfriend urges.

"But... But..."

"Finn has always been the best with money out of the three of us." She has a point.

"Because he doesn't have any! How can he spend money he doesn't have?!" He's got a point.

"Tell you what," you suggest. You already know how you want to spend today, and Jackson is a good place to start. "How about a test?" The two look at you questioningly as you gather your ever-growing courage. "I get access to your earnings" you say, trying to sound thoughtful as you look at Jackson. "For, say... three months."

"You... What... N... N..." He can't resist you. "Okay..." You like Jackson. He's one of the few people who treat you well. He's never really been hostile towards you. But the best you got from him was a distant friendship, him approving of you in his apartment. Except he has Cassie and you don't, you don't even are mad at him how he treated you. It's just bad luck that you changed. His bad luck.

"Do you want my earnings too?" wants Cassie to know, hugging her boyfriend who looks pretty beaten up. "I don't make as much as my generous friend but what I said I meant. You're better with money."

"Don't make yourself look worse than you are," you say, wincing. Jackson makes pretty good money at his job. But you also realize that Cassie is serious. "But if you really want to... okay?" You're not sure but Cassie hugs you and you feel her breasts in your back while Jackson can't look you in the eye.

"Okay," you say half an hour later. Jackson is getting ready for work and Cassie does the same. Cassie's boyfriend asked you why you don't do the same, but honestly, you can always get a job at the supermarket. Besides, you're sure you can convince your boss to not fire you just because you skipped a day. The three of you leave the apartment and separate in the parking lot in front of your apartment complex. Of course, your dream girl asked you curiously if she should start her workday topless but you waved it off, of course. Her friend Lena would give you a run for your money. Cassie and Jackson both own cars, you don't. But you don't mind running anymore, especially since your body feels like a young Greek god.

"But keep your cell phone with you at all times," Cassie sternly admonishes you. "Call me if you feel bad. Otherwise, I'll kill you." You smile and wave at her. Jackson doesn't even turn to look at you before he, too, roars out of the parking lot.

"Let's see then..." you say, rubbing your hands together. Last night you came up with a plan. Your powers need to be tested. The last thing you want is to put Cassie in danger while you're having fun, so today you're going to spend the day in town and see what happens.