The Presentation

As I walked towards Grace’s lecture hall, I really did start feeling a little shy. She was relying on me, relying on me to be confident and comfortable speaking in front of large groups, to take all of her knowledge and wrap it up in a slick package to really access those high marks. Maybe it was just because of how extremely shy she was in front of people, but in her memories I could see that she really did view me as being charismatic and capable, like someone who could get through anything.

I know that when you love someone, sometimes you develop a warped perspective of them in a positive light, but this is just ridiculous…

I sighed, chucking just a little to myself. It was a nice feeling, to be viewed so positively. Though, it wasn’t like that made my imposter syndrome any better. Even that thought was laughable, considering the situation. A skinwalker, who literally right now is impersonating his own girlfriend, having “imposter syndrome”.

Well, regardless, my only choice now was to abide by the mantra that had taken on new and **** depths ever since my humanity was burnt away on that ill-fated date with Lisa, and “Fake it till I make it.”

It was with this thought that I reached the doors of Grace’s lecture theater, peeking through the door, feeling my long hair cascade down my shoulders as I did so. It was an older part of campus, a lecture theater almost inspired in terms of its layout by an old Greek amphitheater, with the seats rising upwards and outwards away from the central podium, so the students could all have a good view.

I could see them now, some sitting and nervously flicking through notes, while others seemed unfazed and confident. There were even a few slackers that I could see, lazily lying back or half asleep. I couldn’t help but laugh a little, the sound coming out cute when expressed through Grace’s lips, appreciating the lackadaisical attitude of the indolent.

Maybe they’re really the ones who have all of this figured out. After all, studying hard shows dedication, but getting overly worried about all of this is silly when it’s so very far from being life or ****.

Now… who should I sit beside…?

I stuck my tongue out just a little to the side of my mouth, knowing it would look goofy on my face and utterly adorable on Grace’s, as I dipped into her memories and pulled her personality tightly around mine.

Oh. Ehm. Well, I guess on the bright side, this makes things a little bit easier…?

It was awkward to see, but it seemed Grace hadn’t made a single friend in her whole class since beginning university. It made things very easy for me really, as it seemed I wouldn’t need to impersonate Grace in front of her buddies, but as her boyfriend who cared about her I couldn’t help but feel somewhere between amusement at how pathetic she was, and genuine, concerned sorrow at how devastating the effects of her social anxiety really were.

The dark side of the life of a shy girl…

Deciding I could just sit anywhere then, I just plopped down on a seat somewhere in the middle, informed by Grace’s personality which was never keen to really stand out. I didn’t have long to wait, before a short, scruffy older man seemed to tumble into the room, not genuinely falling yet his regular walk had all the appearance of a shuffle that threatened it at all times.

Mr. Heathwell…

I’d met him once before, not as myself of course. I’d taken Grace's lecturer meeting for her, getting some one on one mentoring from the lecturer to help “my” grades improve. He was a little disorganized, and seemed more the idiot savant to an unobservant viewer, but I could tell from the way he talked about the subject that he really knew his stuff.

Taking his place at the podium after hastily stuffing his various materials on his desk, he started the class, explaining the situation one more time of how the presentations would be assessed, and how much of the points from this would go towards the final grades for the semester.

My nerves just dialed higher hearing it, concern over the trust that Grace had put in me making me feel more than a little concerned.

“Do we have any volunteers?”

“Sure, I’ll go first.”

I was startled by the voice next to me, hardly expecting anyone to volunteer, and expecting someone beside me even less. A slight girl with short, dyed blonde hair stood, walking down to the front of the room. Vintage style glasses sat just a little oversized on her face, while her patched overalls and stripy shirt only enhanced that older, put together personally look.

“Are you sure you want to go first?”

A slightly frantic stage whisper came from the guy beside her, his basic haircut and baggy clothes doing no favors to his admittedly blessed genetics. The way he said it made him sound a little like the anxious type, though one had to wonder why that would be when he had such a powerful frame. One got the impression he could have been a medieval knight or something in a past life, yet in the modern era was only a nerdy college boy, doing a course on myths and legends.

The girl turned with a smile to him, leaving him with her final words before she’d reach that central podium.

“Hey, we all gotta go sometime, right? I get mine over with first, I won’t have to go after someone really impressive.”

As I watched her presentation, I couldn’t help but think how cruel she was to say that; she was impressive herself! Her presentation on various creatures like golem from Jewish tradition was incredible, and I found myself getting lost in her words. She carried me along with her vivid descriptions and the way she made the historical basis so relevant to the modern listener captivated me. I wasn’t alone; looking around, I couldn’t help but notice the other people in the class being drawn in, just as I was, losing themselves in her words.

When it was over, someone even started a clap, that soon had the whole room joining in. The girl at the front just blushed as she hurried back to her seat, hardly expecting anyone else to really enjoy it that much. And then, just as soon as it had ended, the tension returned. If people had been nervous before, they were definitely nervous now.

“So, uhhh. Do we have another volunteer?”

There was a subtle, uncomfortable desperation on the faces of the students, as they found new meaning and deep interest on the dusty floor and the chipped paint on the ceiling corners. My own heart was racing, Grace’s personality freaking out as I wore it, while my own, lesser nerves worked in tandem with it to be annoying in a special way.

We really are a perfect match, huh Grace? Even our personalities work together when we’re the same person.

It was getting to be unbearable, so I pulled out of Grace’s personality, shedding it like I’d shed her skin when I restored her later.

That first girl had been speaking a lot of sense. After all, if you get your work done early, you can relax for the rest of the class.

“I- I’ll go.”

I stood up, and immediately felt dozens of eyes on me. A strange, excited chill crept up my spine, feeling their gazes, that was only re-enforced by Grace’s memories rising to the top of my psyche just to highlight that she’d never, not even once, been the center of this classes attention until now.

Well, I can’t back out now…

I grabbed Grace’s laptop and began to walk down the aisle, as my thoughts seemed to scramble despite myself. But then, I saw something. My own reflection in the window, for just a moment, as I approached the podium. Those plump thighs in my skirt, that perfect complexion, long dark hair and all the hallmarks of a gorgeous Asian girl. Even the simple act of being reminded of how I looked right now put me at ease, that small glance in the mirror reminding me;

I’m literally the hottest bitch in here right now. My body is to die for and every part of me is covered in explicitly feminine beauty.

Thinking like that, even thinking of my sweet, shy girlfriend as “the hottest bitch” just made my confidence skyrocket. I couldn’t deny that there was something so empowering about thinking I was a sexy chick and then having it verified utterly by one glance in the mirror. Being a girl just felt so right, so euphoric, like I could do anything. The real Grace may have been kept back by her social anxiety, but at least for today, she’d wanted the version of Grace that only I could provide. A confident, charismatic Alex filling wrapped up tight in the skin of a shy, innocent Goddess.

And after all, after everything I did as Jessica, and then Grace, all those taboos broken, so many forbidden feelings explored, what is one presentation?

I turned out from the podium with a smile, Grace’s laptop set up and power-point projected behind me.

Today, I’m going to show them who Grace can be with just a little more confidence…!

There’s something that can happen with presentations, especially ones you’ve hyped up in your mind, important ones that have some of your future riding on them. It seemed to almost happen even more here, as it was Grace’s future instead of mine, one I cared about a little more honestly.

You enter a flow state, words coming to you as you present them, a calm detachment, your emotions suppressed or more likely forgotten, as you’re just too wrapped up in the moment. By the time I’d finished the presentation, I barely even knew how it went, too lost in the moment as I delivered Grace’s perfectly studied notes. I wandered back to my seat, a little dazed, as the class clapped.

Well, no matter what, it’s done now.

I leaned back in my seat, letting myself relax and rest, still keyed up from all the anticipation. An elation just being done with that presentation, the happiness of overcoming stress and anxiety, and the powerful waves of relief I could feel from Grace’s personality all let me embrace a certain serene atmosphere for the rest of the presentations, even finding time to just enjoy them.

Even if it wasn’t the most employable course, the passion and level of study exhibited by some of these students was infectious. Seeing people happy, really pursuing their passions, made my heart feel warm with appreciation. I got so lost in the feelings that I didn’t even realize we’d come to the end of the lecture until Mr. Heathwell made his closing statements, and some of the students started leaving.

Okay… okay! Nice, I’ve done it. Now I can just go home, restore Grace, she’ll be so happy she’s done with the-

“Hey.”

I couldn’t help but jump, the sudden appearance of a voice right by my ear startling me out of my reverie. I turned, seeing that blonde girl from earlier sitting right beside me, her face close to mine.

“You were really amazing out there, you know?”

“Aha, oh you think so? T-thank you, you were really special yourself actually…”

“How come I’ve never really seen you here? In this class I mean. I feel like I would remember someone like you.”

“Yeah, it is pretty mysterious honestly.”

The guy from earlier, who must be this girl’s friend, interjected, before I replied to both of them sheepishly.

“I guess I’m just the kind of girl who blends into the background, you know?”

A small, nervous laugh followed, as the two of them shared a look.

“That’s crazy! You must have some kind of powers if you’ve been able to blend in that much. You were so confident up there, so much passion for the subject when you delivered your presentation. You knew all the facts like the back of your hand, and your delivery was flawless.”

“You’re really flattering me…”

A blush took to my cheeks, as despite myself I loved the praise. Hearing someone be so kind about Grace’s hard work, appreciating everything she put into it the way I did, made my heart so full, while hearing the praise towards my presentation skills had me feeling really cool as well.

“Hey, Jenny. Should we…”

“Oh yeah, of course. Where are my manners! I’m Jenny by the way.”

“I’m Aaron, nice to meet you.”

The boy gave a soft smile, in contrast to Jenny’s charisma.

“I-I’m Grace.”

I smiled, and it seemed both of them blushed.

It seemed Grace’s shy girl charm is just as potent for guys and girls…

“Ohh, Grace, you’re cute enough to eat! I really want to get to know you better. Who are you friends with in class?”

Jenny’s question was innocent, but Grace was still catching strays unintentionally here. A defeated look crossed my expression, that inside I couldn’t help laughing at. I loved Grace but my sadistic side couldn’t help but enjoy how comically sad her lack of friends was.

“Ehm… well… ehmm. Kinda… ehmm… I don’t really have any.”

That same frozen, awkward expression danced across Jenny and Aaron’s faces, as they took in the depressing sight before them. They turned, and shared a look, before Jenny reached down and grabbed my hand, pulling me up.

“Okay, okay, that’s it. There’s no way a girl as cute as you isn’t having any friends in class. You’re coming with us, right Aaron?”

“We could do karaoke, they have special prices if you come in the afternoon?”

He suggested with a smile.

“That’s perfect! Nothing gets you comfortable with strangers faster than getting over the mutual embarrassment of badly singing your lungs out together.”

Jenny started pulling me along behind her, Aaron following along.

Should I really do this…? An opportunity to make Grace some friends in class has fallen right into my lap, but in doing so I’ll be messing with her social life as well as going beyond just changing her classwork outcomes for her…

Selfishly though… doing karaoke as my girlfriend might be a lot of fun… and Grace’s voice is so cute and so rarely heard, how would it sound singing…?