Go to class (Not!)

“And that all started in Germany, in the 1500s, and was really influential. Only it wasn’t Germany back then, because Germany was just a bunch of smaller kingdoms…”

Grace was rambling on, giving me a master class in her course. She hoped that this way, I could follow the content and take appropriate notes so she wouldn’t miss out on anything.

It’s cute how she cares so much about her studies, and the thoughtful way she describes everything… although, it wouldn’t really be in character to acknowledge that.

I rolled my eyes as I cut her off.

“Like, Grace. Honestly. Who even cares?”

“Well… hopefully you. If you’re going to be me. And aren’t you going to tell me stuff about your course too?”

“Sure, absolutely. I want you to listen very carefully, as this is the gospel you’re going to be referring to now that you’re Jessica, okay? So basically, this is what you’re going to do…”

I turned to her, like I was going to impart some deep wisdom, seeing how she leaned forwards with interest piqued and wide eyes.

“You’re going to go in there, be the hottest bitch in the room, and maybe flirt with any guys who catch your eye. Okay?”

My faux serious expression took on a teasing smile as I finished, only to be met with anxiety from Grace.

“J-Jessicaaa! I’m serious! Don’t you care about your course at all?”

“I’m serious too, Grace! Hmm, listen…”

I thought for a moment, as a devious idea came to me that would hopefully be palatable to Grace, and push her even more in the direction I desired.

“… We’ve swapped bodies, okay? Your course is in myths and legends, you literally study this kind of thing all the time. When two characters swap bodies, it’s because…?”

I raised my hand, twirling my fingers like I was beckoning her to fill in the blanks. Dread flitted across her face, and very quietly, with fearful reverence, she replied:

“This didn’t just happen inexplicably… we’ve been cursed by a witch…”

“No, you idiot! Ughh, I mean, no. Probably not.”

I reeled myself back from giving the game away that I was very conscious of the true reason we’d swapped, before trying again.

“It’s like what we were talking about in the bedroom, when people swap bodies, it’s like the cosmos trying to teach them a lesson! It’s like a… a spirit quest? You know?”

Grace looked deep in thought as she mulled over my words.

“Yeah, yeah… I remember.”

“And which of us do you think most needs to learn a lesson?”

“I’ve got it!”

I could almost see the light bulb go off over her head, as she continued.

“You were swapped into me so you could learn to be kind and sweet and stop being a total meanie!”

I snorted as I found myself **** back the instinct to laugh. Grace didn’t really have the guile to use that as an opportunity to get back at Jessica, so that really was just a genuine reflection of how she felt. I tried to stuff myself back down the throat of Jessica’s personality as I answered.

“Uggh, no. Obviously not, cause I’m perfect. No, it’s you!”

“Me…?”

“Yes, you. You need to get over your shyness, and how uptight you are. You need to live a little. And what would be better than being given the body of the hottest girl on campus, who’s always partying, and super popular, and confident, and so fit and tight…”

“Okay, okay! Maybe you’re right!”

I wasn’t sure if Grace had just been overwhelmed by this imagined truth or if she’d finally started developing the confidence to interrupt one of Jessica’s narcissism fueled rants, but either way suited my goals perfectly.

“Sooo, now that you’ve acknowledged that I’m right, naturally, like usual, what does this mean?”

“I’ll… I’ll try and do class the way you would.”

“Gooood, good. And you’ll try flirting with some guy?”

“I don’t really flirt though…”

“Oh, trust me. When you look like I do…”

I gestured up and down the body Grace was currently wearing, taking the time to check “myself” out once again.

“… so many of these hapless guys will think it’s flirting if you just talk to them. Honestly, the number of guys who’ve caught feelings for me over the years is crazy.”

Saying that, seeing the memories from Jessica’s perspective and feeling the ego boost each time it happened, I could feel my own pride inflating. Before all of this, before becoming a skinwalker, I’d been that hapless guy. I’d caught feelings for girls who didn’t feel the same, who didn’t care about me. I cringed internally as the memories of rejection from my highschool crush tore back, only to be quashed harder than ever by the satisfaction of my situation now.

Because now, I’m that hot bitch. I’m the beautiful girl guys can’t help but crush on, with all the bitchy, self-assured confidence to pick and choose who I wanted.

I found my lips curling into a smug smirk as I thought about it, a certain swagger infused euphoria filling me with positive emotions tainted and buoyed by Jessica’s competitive instincts. I had to admit, I was feeling good… and if I could feel this way, I had a feeling being in the body that’d helped me would more than help Grace too.

“Y-yeah… that makes sense.”

I stepped closer to her, taking her hands, giving her one final confidence boost before I sent her on her way.

“Okay, I think I’ve made my point. Now go! Be the hot girl I know is inside you, and, naturally looking like me, outside you too. You don’t want to be late!”

“Eh!”

Grace made a startled little noise as she realized the time, sounding so fresh and interesting coming out in the typically sexier voice of Jessica, before she headed off to class. I watched her go, my hand on my hip, before my confident and supportive grin morphed into a more villainous smirk.

Mhmmm! Sorryyy, I think “Grace” is actually going to be missing from her lectures today!

I spun on my heel as I walked towards the city.

For a medium sized city, I had to admit I’d always been very impressed at the shopping options available here. I’d heard it was in part due to the large numbers of students attending the university, but an even greater reason was the presence of some ultra- exclusive prep school here. Apparently it was full of the children of the ultra-wealthy, and the presence of these children and naturally, their parents, had lead to a certain higher than average proportion of citizens who’s main hobby was shopping till they dropped.

Whatever the reason, I wasn’t complaining as I strode the boulevards. As Alex, it wasn’t like I’d ever really been too crazy about shopping. My clothes were simple but dependable; plain colored t-shirts, blue jeans, trainers, hoodies. Just regular clothes guys wore. My sense of style wasn’t bad by any means, but it also wasn’t anything that would turn any heads.

Maybe that’s just men’s fashion in general. Most guys just wear something basic.

Women’s fashion though, was a whole other world. More colors, more materials, more cuts and patterns, more options. It was a galaxy of choice, a million little hits of self-expression. Logically, I knew that this just meant it was more trouble, more hassle and stress being a girl.

But when were emotions ever logical…

I looked in the window of a boutique, taking in the dresses, heels and skirts through the glass. I remembered so many times as a teenager I’d been in this position, looking at such cute clothes and finding a forbidden part of my heart wondering what it might be like to wear them. Some locked away section of me, repressed and stuffed away, dreaming of a world where I could pull off a look like that. Feeling an awful, cold misery with the knowledge that I’d never know, I could never know.

But now…

My gaze refocused, taking in my reflection. Grace’s body looked back, the skin of a short-stack Asian shy girl with big boobs. An unrecognized and unrealized beauty, who despite it all seemed overlooked. I could feel Jessica’s personality, her skills and knowledge, utterly subservient and enslaved to me; my soul stuffed inside hers, wearing it and finding it so comfortable.

Now I had a beautiful form that would more than fit these clothes, it would elevate them. Far from being seen as just some guy awkwardly cross-dressing, I was a woman whose curves were explicitly, undeniably feminine.

Fufufu, Gracie~ I’m going to have so much fun dressing you up…

As I looked at the shops around me,