Go to Tiger Beach

At the time I read the flyer for the party, there was still a whole day to pass until the event itself. My efforts exhausted after a day asking around, I went back to my flat and brooded like a dashing Victorian hero, except much less exotic and exciting due to the location being a Uni flat instead of a gothic mansion.

There was still no sign of Alicia and Frank; I even went to their room and knocked, before finding it locked. Maybe they’d gone on a camping trip? It wouldn’t be unusual for them to just take off in Frank’s jeep up some mountain somewhere, returning with big smiles and tan lines, the two of them having the time of their lives in nature together. A pang of lonely jealously stung my heart as I thought about it, before the concerns at hand pulled my attention back to the present.

Supposing they were on a camping trip, it took them out of the equation as potential suspects. Jessica couldn’t be one either; not only had I been wearing her skin the whole time someone took Grace, but I’d even had the misfortune of running into her since.

It was a strange experience, to say the least. I sat at the kitchen table, eating the cheapest instant noodles (a student classic meal), when she sauntered in. It was like energy was almost radiating off her, skintight leggings hugging well-toned legs, and a black sports bra leaving little to the imagination up top. Confidence radiated off her, her sadistic smile filtered through her natural attractiveness almost looking playful and fun, at least if you didn’t know her.

“Oh, Alex, just you? I suppose vermin does tend to come out when the real inhabitants of a house aren’t around.”

“Huh??”

I said it incredulously; even Jessica wasn’t usually this forthright.

“Oh, did you hear something there?”

“Yeah, you sai-”

“You didn’t. You really ought to get those ears checked, you know?”

She laughed like I was the stupidest person in the world, while reaching into the fridge for one of her sports drinks that seemed to fill half of the whole space. It felt really weird watching her, so much newfound intimacy between the two of us that she was completely clueless about. Her audacious little insults caused a small fire to burn in my heart, the deep desire to punish her for the way she treated others simmering inside.

If I’d been the one wearing Grace’s skin, I know exactly what I would have done to you…

Still though…

I felt the anger cool a little, the shine of gentler amusement breaking through. It was harder to see Jessica as a real threat now, at least to me. The worst thing about a bully is the dread, and the sense of powerless inevitability; that they can disrespect you at any time, and you don’t know how to fight back.

Jessica had none of that over me any longer. I was so far beyond such things it was unbelievable. If I wanted to, I could step over there right now, while her back was turned, pierce her with the spines and reduce her to nothing more than an outfit to wear for my amusement. I could destroy her life from the inside, humiliate her in front of her friends and family, make all the worst choices, even make her a criminal on the run, then just step out of her skin and leave the real girl to deal with the consequences.

Or… I could take her life instead. She may have been a total bitch, but she was undeniably gorgeous, her hot body sculpted from hours in the gym and amazing genetics making her a natural athlete. A pretty face and toned muscles like that almost gave her the pinnacle of the female form, and even her personality was a pleasure to wear. So confident, so dominant, roleplaying as a bratty, slutty girl, able to seduce and fuck any guy she wanted, and maybe any girl too.

I felt my boner throb a little, and was grateful for the wooden table top hiding my own log.

“Oh, by the way, have you seen Gracie anywhere?”

Her taunting tone broke my fetish addled fantasies, her gaze meeting mine as she leaned against the kitchen counter.

“No…”

“Hmm, pity. Frank and Alicia are away camping, so I was hoping she was around. Us besties could have so much fun together!”

She was fooling no-one with that fake proclamation of friendship. An uncomfortable, distasteful look rose unbidden to my face, a small flash in Jessica’s eyes revealing just how much she relished it, before she sauntered out of the room, leaving me alone.

Night came faster than I was expecting, and before I knew it, it was time to head over to Tiger Beach. My own wardrobe didn’t have anything close to tropical themed, a dissatisfied expression sitting on my face as I looked over the flannel shirts and hoodies, plain colored t-shirts and ordinary jeans. I didn’t have the most amount of clothes by any means, and what I had was classic and would go with anything, but… it did kinda leave moments where I might like to make an impression much harder.

There definitely weren’t any show pieces here. Nothing to really draw anyone’s attention. A weird mix of disappointment at my own averageness, and forbidden, ecstatic excitement fueled by my memories of being in Jessica’s skin sparked together in my heart.

Now, Jessica… there was someone who knew how to dress and get people’s attention.

Flashbacks to opening up her wardrobe, seeing so many tight, bodycon dresses, lowcut or strapless, skirts that showed off her ass, latex and leather and silks too. The perfect sheaths for her sexy body. I shuddered a little as I remembered the way people had stared at me, the heat of their gazes tracing my body, the huge confidence boost it have me. To know I was desired, I was craved, each look affirming that I was that gorgeous girl, almost a living sex Goddess.

It's so much better than just being plain old Alex…

Maybe this was how the person who found Grace had felt too. The idea shook me a little as I thought about it, the logic making their potential motives seem so clear, and in a way, so relatable. Maybe they’d been just another average person, finding something crazy and getting curious. Grace is beautiful, what average girl wouldn’t want to know how that feels? Grace is barely known by anyone, her life almost a perfect blank slate someone could step into and customize just how they want to. Starting fresh, especially as such a pretty girl, who wouldn’t feel that temptation. And maybe… maybe a guy had found her. Maybe a guy like me, average, unfulfilled. Craving the excitement of the unknown. What guy hasn’t thought about how it would feel to be a girl, to be a woman. Inside Grace, he could play it anyway he wanted, live like she had, be the shy girl, wrap himself up tightly inside her innocence, enjoy the rich first time feelings of being a cute, inexperienced girl trying to find genuine connection.

Or… he could play it the other way, take every advantage of the raw, unused sex appeal of her skin. Take all her innocence and all her first times, become a sexy, slutty Asian babygirl, partying in expensive clubs in tight dresses, big natural tits and seductive thighs drawing everyone to them. The temptation might be too difficult to resist…

A swig of vodka distracted me from my thoughts and desires, even as it burned my throat just a little.

I really have to focus…

I thought, as I **** the drink down faster. It was important to get as drunk as I could really handle. Jimmy wasn’t answering his texts, Frank and Alicia were gone… I didn’t really have anyone else I felt close enough to to message and invite out tonight. Going to a nightclub alone was scary enough, at least as my not entirely confident self, so I figured a lot of liquid courage wouldn’t hurt.

I’d forgotten to buy any mixer, leaving me to drink it straight, but on some strange level I was starting to enjoy it a little.

“Maybe drinking straight liquor will be my college money saving hack?”

It felt almost like I was lying to myself as I said it out loud, such a normal statement after all these thoughts, as though I was still a normal college student, and not something far more.

Trying to distract myself with normality, trying to just find pleasure in the basic enjoyments of a college life… I wonder if there’s only so far I can go with that? Only so far before I need to accept the truth of what I am? What I really crave, deep down…?

My hunch about the re-opening of Tiger Beach was right. Very, very right. The que to get in was huge, trailing round the block. I’d gotten here at a time I thought was early, and even then felt like I was trapped in line forever. A glance at the time on my phone told me how right I was; I’d been queuing for nearly an hour.

The whole time I’d felt so out of place. Muscular guys in Hawaiian shirts, often open, exposing their six packs, mingled with girls in daisy dukes, bikini tops, and miniskirts. My jeans and a flannel shirt had me feeling like a Canadian lumberjack who’s been isekaiied on a Caribbean cruise. Not everyone was so sexy admittedly, but the ones who were being let in definitely were. If you looked the part, had the outfit and especially body, it seemed you got let in rightly. Otherwise, you stayed qued up forever like me and a few others. Mainly guys, looking nerdy or basic, not quite cool enough to really get in tonight.

Eventually, I made it to the front of the line. Two bouncers greeted me, their arms like thick slabs of muscle and their eyes imperceptible behind their heavy brows.

“ID?”

One said, expending his hand as I fumbled to hand it over. He gave it a cursory glance, before responding.

“Yeah. You’re not getting in. Back of the line.”

As he told me that, the other bouncer high fived a muscular blond guy with two girls on his arms, some guy who skipped the que and walked right in. It was difficult not to feel the injustice of the moment.

“Huh, what gives? I’ve been quing for an hour.”

“Ratio.”

“What?”

“Ratio. Do I really gotta explain it to ya? This club takes the ratio very importantly, get yourself a pretty girl and maybe I’ll let you in. We don’t need just a load of single dudes coming in here. You’re not even dressed for a beach party. Now, back of the line!”

I stumbled back, tired as I slunk back away, some other guy in a similar position to me being turned away just the same.

Goddamn, that was annoying.

Frustration clouded my vision as I walked to the back of the que, the bouncers seemingly re-enforcing my own fears of mediocrity.

Maybe I should just go home…?

Tired as I was, annoyed at the dead end the last few days had been, the idea seemed reasonable. I really hadn’t gotten anywhere…

Opening my phone to call a taxi, my homeward bound plans stopped in their tracks. Displayed on the lock screen, clear as can be, was a notification from Facebook.

“New Post from Grace Miura and 5+ posts from other friends.”

My fingers couldn’t scramble fast enough to get the app open, being rewarded with the simple post;

“Grace and 27 others checked into ‘Tiger Beach: Tropical nightclub’”

She… she’s here…. Or at least whoever is wearing her is.

My hunch was right… or so it seemed at least. The only was to know for sure was to get in there and see for myself. Get in there…

Well… it seems like I can’t get in there as myself. So how could I do it?

There were a few ways inside, now that I thought about it. The bouncers were so caught up looking for trouble they would never expect a random, direct attack on one of them, especially not one like how I would. One of their powerful, muscular bodies could power through any crowd easily, and they had the right to go nearly anywhere they pleased. They’d make an excellent choice, and joyriding one of their lives would make up for the stuck up way they treated patrons.

One of the club goers might be my most convenient way though. People feel a little on edge around bouncers, but around another club goer they would be much more lowkey. Obviously someone attractive would be my best bet, one of the muscular, popular guys maybe? Or… memories of wearing Jessica, the intoxicating pleasures of a female body, the power a pretty girl’s sex appeal exerts on those around her… maybe one of these sexy, bikini clad girls would be better? The bouncer had said they kept an eye on the ratio of guys to girls, with having more girls always being preferred.

Finally… the flyer had mentioned a special guest DJ. A real VIP apparently, someone to make the re-opening night go with a bang. If anyone was going to get in without a doubt, it was them. They might be hard to get to, but… imagine the thrill of playing a gig in their body. Would the skinwalker powers even allow me to do that? Would their mastery of memories let me pull off a performance like that, in front of a packed crowd…?