The It Girl Ch. 01

"I think the spell worked," said Leigha.

Cassie tried to laugh, but her lungs were exhausted from crying out her climax.

"Look," said Leigha, pointing to Cassie's torso. To her surprise, when Cassie looked down she found none the thick black body paint that Leigha had been using earlier. Her stomach was as clean and unmarked as the day she was born.

"Was that disappearing ink or something?" said Cassie, puzzled.

"I told you," Leigha said. "It was a love charm. And from what I can tell, it's made you more attractive than ever."

Cassie scoffed. "You were already hot for me."

"Wait 'til you get home, then," Leigha said. She had a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. "I think you'll notice a difference."

Cassie laughed and swatted at her. "Well, even if I don't believe in magic you can do that particular... incantation any time. Now come on. I need another tofu dog."

Cassie had thought she would have trouble sleeping outside, but with all of the day's exertions she found herself tumbling into sleep. When she woke up the next morning, her naked body felt crusty and a bit dirty, and a bright orange sun was beating down on her. Leigha was already up, fully clothed and collecting stray wood from around the camp.

"How are you feeling?" Leigha asked.

"Get me some water," Cassie grumbled. "And my clothes."

They had a breakfast of granola, and cleaned up what little mess there was from last month. Leigha started getting frisky, but Cassie reluctantly pleaded that she was feeling too sore. So they sat on the porch of their old cabin and talked about old times. Leigha needled Cassie to tell her about cute girls in her town, but Cassie deferred.

"You're no fun," Leigha said.

"Why are you always looking to me for gossip?" Cassie said. "My life is really boring. What about you? You seeing any cuties lately?"

"Well, like I said, I've been out of action for most of the past year. But I'll have you know that I've broken quite a few hearts at my school," Leigha said with a flourish. "It's just like you said. Everybody wants to tie me down. But I'm hoping I'll meet some nice open-minded young women soon." Cassie had no idea if she was joking or not. It was hard to imagine Leigha as a ladykiller, but it was equally hard to imagine anyone knowing her and not loving her.

And eventually, somehow, the vast time that had once stretched before them, was up. Cassie had to go home to get back to her shitty summer job stocking shelves at a supermarket, and they both had to vacate the property before the new management came in. But they delayed, finding one reason to stay and another, until a coupe unintended hours had passed by.

Finally, the two young women hugged in the now-former Camp Lambda's gravel driveway. It tore Cassie apart to know that she would never come down this road again, never have another two weeks of consequence-free fun and acceptance. She felt herself crying into Leigha's shoulder.

Leigha patted her on the back of the shoulders. "It's okay, Cass. This isn't the end of your adventure. It's the beginning."

It was a strange thing to say, Cassie thought. Almost as if Leigha saw her as a character in a story. But somehow, it made Cassie feel better. There was a strange tingling in her stomach, and Cassie thought that as her childhood ended, perhaps something wonderful could be beginning.