First token

As they walked out into the hallway, the bass from the music thumped against the floorboards, vibrating up through the soles of Philip’s feet. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady Vanessa’s racing heart. He told himself he just wanted to get this over with. He told himself he was doing it for the girls. But as he felt the sway of his hips and the brush of the skirt against his thighs, Philip knew he was lying. He was terrified, yes. But he was also dying to see what happened next.

Approaching the common room of the Theta house felt like walking the plank, if the plank was carpeted in plush cream wool and the sharks were twenty-something guys holding red Solo cups.

Philip took short, quick breaths, Vannesa’s heart attempting to hammer its way out of her chest. The black pleated skirt of his outfit was criminally short. Every step he took caused the fabric to swish high against his thighs, sending a draft of cool air up toward places that felt disturbingly exposed. He had to fight the urge to yank the hem down, knowing it was a losing battle. The skirt was designed to tease, not to cover.

Behind him, Jack, strutting in Katy’s body with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, leaned close to his ear. “Relax your shoulders,” Jack whispered, the checkered knit of his top brushing against Philip’s bare back. “You look like you’re marching to an execution. Vanessa glides. Try to glide.”

“I’m trying not to flash the entire brotherhood,” Philip hissed back, keeping his eyes on his heels. He was still getting used to the center of gravity in Vanessa’s body. The weight of her breasts pulled him forward, and the curve of her hips made his gait naturally sway in a way he hadn't mastered yet.

“Let them look,” Jack teased, his voice low and breathy. “That’s the point, remember? Tokens. We need eyes on us.” He paused, a mischievous glint in Katy’s brown eyes. “Besides, once we get these tokens, we can head back to the room. I haven’t forgotten where we left off.”

Philip felt a traitorous pulse of heat flare between Vanessa’s legs. The body’s reaction was instantaneous, a wet, heavy throb that had nothing to do with Philip’s mind and everything to do with the biology he was currently piloting. He shot Jack a glare, trying to summon some masculine authority, but it lost its edge when delivered by a 5-foot-tall girl with doe eyes and pouting lips.

“Focus, Jack. Serious mode.”

“I am serious,” Jack grinned, stepping into the foyer with a look of barely contained excitement. “Serious about exploring these bodies.”

The common room had been transformed. The furniture was pushed back, the lights were dimmed to a warm, golden haze, and the bass of a Top 40 hit thumped through the floorboards. The room was packed. Delta brothers in button-downs and polos mingled with Theta sisters who were dressed to kill.

The air was thick, a humid mix of cheap beer, expensive cologne, and the floral sweetness of dozens of perfumes. It was sensory overload. Philip flinched as the noise washed over him. In his old body, he would have faded into the background, grabbing a beer and finding a wall to lean on. In Vanessa’s body, fading into the background was impossible.

As soon as they stepped off the stairs, heads turned. Philip saw eyes track the plunge of his neckline, the bare expanse of his midriff, the curve of his legs. It was terrifying. It was exhilarating.

“Ladies!” A voice boomed. It was Trent. He was holding a beer, looking every bit the king of the castle. “Welcome to the jungle,” Trent smirked, his eyes lingering on Jack’s midriff before sliding over to Philip. “Looking to earn some favor tonight?”

Philip’s throat went dry. He opened his mouth, but his voice stuck.

Jack stepped in smoothly, flipping Katy’s blond hair over one shoulder. “We’re looking for whatever you’ve got, Trent. Blue, red… gold?”

Trent laughed, a deep, barking sound. “Gold? Slow down, tiger. You gotta walk before you can run. Let’s see some spirit first.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out a blue token. “Blue token. Easy money. All you gotta do is bark.”

Philip blinked. “What?”

“Bark,” Trent repeated, his grin widening. “Like a dog. Loud. Let’s hear it.”

It was degrading. It was stupid. It was exactly the kind of hazing bullshit Philip hated. He stiffened, ready to tell Trent to shove his token where the sun didn’t shine. But then he remembered the stakes. Expulsion. The sorority sisters getting cut.

Jack nudged him hard in the ribs.

Philip closed his eyes, swallowed his pride, and let out a sharp, high-pitched “Woof!”

Trent looked unimpressed. “Weak. I can’t hear you over the music. I said bark.”

Philip felt his face burning. He channeled every ounce of frustration he felt into his chest and let it rip. “Woof! Woof!”

Trent chuckled and tossed the blue chip at him. It bounced off Vanessa’s cleavage and landed on the floor. Philip had to bend down to pick it up, his face flaming as he felt Trent’s eyes on his ass.

“Good girl,” Trent said dismissively, already turning to talk to someone else.

Philip clutched the plastic token in his hand, his heart hammering against his ribs. He felt humiliated.

“One down,” Jack said cheerfully, snatching a token from another brother after doing a quick, energetic spin. “Twenty-nine to go. Come on, you need a drink.”

Jack steered him toward the makeshift bar set up in the kitchen. Philip didn’t argue. His nerves were frayed, and the adrenaline was making his hands shake.

“I can’t do this,” Philip muttered as Jack handed him a red plastic cup filled with something pink and fizzy. “I’m a terrible girl. I just barked at a guy I have to tutor in Calculus.”

“Drink,” Jack ordered, clinking his cup against Philip’s. “It’s jungle juice. It’ll help.”

Philip took a sip. It was sweet, masking the harsh burn of cheap vodka. He took another, larger gulp. The liquid hit his stomach and seemed to diffuse instantly into his bloodstream.

“Whoa,” Philip murmured, blinking. “Does **** hit faster when you’re smaller?”

“Probably,” Jack shrugged, downing half his cup in one go. “Less blood volume or something. Science. Just ride the wave, Phil. Stop overthinking. Look at these guys. They’re simple creatures. They see tits, they see legs, they’re happy. You hold all the cards right now. You just have to play them.”

Philip looked down at himself. The top pushed Vanessa’s breasts together in a way that was frankly architectural. He took another long drink, feeling the buzz settle behind his eyes, softening the sharp edges of his anxiety.

“Okay,” Philip said, taking a deep breath. The scent of his own perfume, Vanessa’s perfume, filled his nose. It was jasmine and something musky. It smelled like sex. “Okay. Let’s get some points.”

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