Online Read Free Novel
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    Perfect Worlds Omnibus

    Prev Next


      Therestilldidn’tseemtobeanyonewatchingherasshewentuptothe drinkcooler.Shepretendedtoexaminethebottlesofsodanexttothoseofthe beer.Withonelastlookaround,shereachedintothecoolerandextractedtwo bottlesofbeer,dumpingthoseintotheouterpocketsofKrisee’sjacket.

      Shebrisklywalkeduptothefrontcounterandputhertwopacksofgumby theregister.Sheflashedhercutestsmileatthecashier.“Isthatgoingtobeall, sweetheart?”themanasked.

      “That’sit.Igottahurryandgethome.”

      “Well,youbecareful.Thesestreetsaren’talwayssafeforlittlegirls.”

      “I’llbecareful,”Karisaidassweetlyaspossible.

      Shepracticallyskippedoutofthestore,feelingthefamiliarrushof giddinessasshefledthecrimescene.SheopenedthedoortofindKrisee leaningagainstthebuilding,smokingacigaretteandstaringdownanyonewho mightbegivingherafunnylook.

      “Yougotthestuff?”

      “Yup,”Karisaid,punctuatingitbykissingKrisee’scheek.

      “Thenlet’sblowthisjoint.”Sheflickedhercigaretteawayandthenthey left,maintainingaleisurelyswaggerastheywent.

      InanalleyKaridistributedtheirloot.Onlythendidsheallowherselfthe giggleshe’dwantedtoletoutearlier.Theyhadgottenawaywithit,noone questioningher,noteventhecashierlookingrightather.

      “Youaresooooamazing,”Kriseesaid.SheleanedovertokissKarionthe lips,hermouthtastinglikethebeershe’djustdrank.Thentheysatbackand devouredtheirill-gottensnacks.

      Theydidn’tneedtoresorttoshoplifting;theymademorethanenough moneyattheclubtocovertheirsnacksandasabartenderKaricouldeasilyget asmuchalcoholastheywanted.Itwasjustagametheyplayed,onethatwent alongwiththeirtattoos,piercings,andunnaturally-coloredhair.Theywere experimenting,asTaihadsaid,justlikenormalteenagers.

      Kari,alwayssoshyandproper,hadneverthoughtbeingbadcouldbeso fun.Whilesheknewshoplifting,kissingagirlinpublic,andcarvinghername onalightfixturewerejustpettycrimes,shestillgotathrilloutofit.Theywere rebellingagainstthesystem,asystemTaihadcreated.Evenifhehadgiven themtacitapprovalbymakingthemlookthisway,itstillfeltgoodtotweakhis nosejustabitbyrebellingagainsthissquare“perfect”world.

      Thensheheardtheclocktowerringoutfouro’clock.“Ohshit,”shesaid, gettingtoherfeet.“Wegottagettotheclub!”

      Eventeenagedrebellionhaditslimits.

      ***

      TheyfoundMissKilgorewaitingforthematthedoor,flabbyarmsfolded acrossherchest.“Sorrywe’relate,”Karisaid.“Wejustlosttrackoftime,you know?”

      “That’sthefourthtimethisweek,”MissKilgoregrowled.Sheturnedto Krisee.“Val’stakingyourplaceforthefiveo’clockandMakiscoveringthebar untilsix.Youlittlehoodlumsgowaitintheofficeuntilyou’reneeded.

      “Yes,ma’am,”theysaidinunison.AssoonasMissKilgoreturnedaround, though,KriseegrinnedatKari,whosmiledback.Theybothhadtostiflelaughs.

      Thoselaughsdidn’tlastlong.AssoonasKaristeppedthroughthe doorway,shesawtheblackmarkappearonherhand.Shetastedsomething metalinhermouthandfeltaroundtotouchbracesaroundherteeth.Something coldtouchedhercheeksandshefeltapairofthickplastic-framedglasses.She alsofeltcrustyzitsalonghercheeks.TurningtoKrisee,shesawherfriend’s cutepinkhairunravelandthengrowuntilitreachedherwaist,whereitbegan graduallyfadingintoamousybrown.Zitspoppeduponherfacetoo,butno glasses.WhenKriseeopenedhermouth,Karisawshetoohadbraces.

      “Thiththuckth,”Kriseegrumbled.“Welooklikegeekth.”

      “It’thnotthatbad,”Karisaidastheytrudgedovertoacornertable.She touchedherfriend’splainhair.“You’rethtillpretty.”

      “Thankth.Youaretoo.Thotheglaththethlookcool.”

      KarineededamomenttorealizeKriseewastalkingaboutherglasses.

      “Thankth.”ShetookoffKrisee’sjacketandsawthathertattooshad disappeared,exceptfortheprancingunicornonherrightarmthathadKrisee’s namestenciledinacloud.AtleastTaihadletherkeepthat.

      “HowamIthuppothedtogoonthtagelikethithe?”Kriseeasked,tossing herhair.

      “Youcanwearawig,”Karisuggested.

      “Igueth.”

      Seeingherfriendwasindireneedofcheeringup,Karilookedaroundthe club.Makwasstillatthebar,mixingadrinkforacustomer.MissKilgorehad gonebackstagetogetthegirlsreadyforthenextshows.Shedidn’tseeTai around,thoughhecouldbeanywherehechose.

      Still,forthemomentthecoastwasclear.Feelingthatgiddinessinher stomachagain,sheleanedovertowhisperintoKrisee’sear,“IthinkIhavetogo tothebathroom.”

      Krisee’sbracesglintedinthelightasshesmiled.“Leadon.”

      Karitookherhandandthentheysprintedintothebathroomstall.Kissing withbraceswasanewadventureastheyhadtobecarefulnottohooktheir bracestogetheroroneachother’slips,buttheysoonfoundtherhythm.From thenitwasjustlikeoldtimes—braces,glasses,zits,andall.

      ***

      Onlyonecustomeraskedherthatdayifshewastooyoungtobeserving drinks.Shejustshruggedandkeptmixingtheman’sdrink.Ifhewantedto complainhewaswelcometotry,thoughshehatedtothinkhowgeekyshewould endupshouldshegetanotherblackmark.

      Kriseecameoutonstageateightforherset.Shestillworeherleatherskirt andjacket,alookthatseemedtoplaywelltothecustomers.Somehowshe’d gottenholdofabrightpinkpageboywig.Eitherthatorsomeonehaddonea reallyfastdyejob.FromwhatKaricouldsee,Kriseehadcoveredthezitsby paintingherfaceadeathlywhitewiththickblackeyeshadowandlipstick.

      AsKariwasadmiringthisnewlookandwonderinghowitmightlookon her,Valsatdownonastoolinfrontofher.“CanIgetsomewater?”sheasked.

      “Thure.”Karifumbledbeneaththecounterforthewaterwhilewatching Kriseestripofftheleatherjacketandthenchuckitbackstage.Freedfromthe jacket,Kriseedidacoupleofbackflips,endingwithahandstand,herskirt pullingdowntorevealherprivates.Seeingthis,Kariwoundupspillingmostof thewateronthecounter.“Thorry.”

      “Youreallyloveher,don’tyou?”Valsaid.

      “Igueththo,”Karisaid.Shepluckedatowelfrombeneaththecounterto wipeupthemessshe’dmade.“Areyoujealouth?”

      “Doyouwantmetobe?”

      “Iathkedyoufirtht.”

      “Oh,that’ssoooomature.”

      “Wellneitherofuthithverymatureanymore,”Karisaid.Thankstoher goodperformances,Valhadgottenevenyounger,sothatnowshewasabout fourteen,thoughherskinremainedunblemishedandherbodylookedevenmore womanlywithherenormousbreastspushingagainstherwhiteblouse.

      “Youdon’tseemtomind.”

      “Neitherdoyou.”

      “Well,good.Thenwe’rebothhappy.”

      “Arewe?”

      “Whatdoyoumean?”

      “AreyouhappywithTai?”

      “OfcourseIam.YouthinkIcameoverheretogetyouback?”

      “Thenwhydidyoucomeover?Youhavewaterbackthtage.”

      “MaybeIjustwantedtoseehowmybestfriendwasdoing.”

      “Why?Ithoughtyoudidn’tneedmeanymore.Ithoughtyouhadthoooo manymorefriendththanIdid.Ithn’tthatwhyyouweregoingtodumpme?”

      “No,Iwasgoingtodumpyoubecauseyouwereaclingybitch.Butyou’re notanymore.Nowyou’rejustaregularbitch.”Foremphasisshethrewthe waterfromherglassinKari’sface.

      “Youlittle—”

      “Thinkwhatyou’redoing,”ValinterruptedasKarireachedforabottle.

      “Just
    remember,allIhavetodoisaskTaiandhecanputyouandyourgirlfriend indiapers.”

      AsmuchasKariwantedtodenyit,Valwasright.Allshehadtodowas crawluponTai’slapandaskhimsweetlyandtheStoneofChangewoulddothe rest.Karileftthebottleontheshelf.“Fine,butwe’renotfriendthanymore.

      Gotit?”

      “Fine.Idon’twanttobefriendswithastuck-uplittlebitchlikeyou anyway.”

      Theyturnedawayatthesametime.KariheardValstormaway.Forthe restofthenightshewatchedherlefthandforanothermark,butnoneappeared.

      Astheclubcloseddownforthenight,Kriseecametositdownatthecounter.

      Shelitupacigaretteandsighed.“YouandValhaveanotherfight?”

      “Yeth.”

      “Youwannatalkaboutit?”

      “Notreally.”

      Kriseestudiedherforamomentandthenshrugged.“Hey,Iheardthere’th

      apartygoingdowninthewoodthoutthidetowntonight.Lotofhighthchool kidththere.Ithoughtmaybewecouldtakeacoupleofbottlethandgoover there.Thhouldbefun.Unlethyouwannajustgohomeandrelax.”

      “No,I’mfine.”Karikneltdowntoretrieveacoupleofbottlesofvodka.

      Maybeshe’dgetablackmarkforit,butatthemomentsheneededtounwind afterherfightwithVal.“Let’thgo.”

      ShetookKrisee’shandandtheyhurriedoutthedoor,intothenight.

      Chapter15

      Eventhoughshehadn’tgottenablackmarkinoveramonth,thepimples onKari’sfacehadtripledwhileherwholefaceseemedtohaveagreasysheento it.Shewipeditoffasbestshecouldwithawashcloth.It’sprobablyjustnormal teenagehormones,shetoldherself.

      ItcomfortedheralittlethatKriseewasgoingthroughanawkwardphaseof herown.Inthelastmonthshehadshotuptencentimeters.Hergrowthspurt hadgottentothepointwhereevensheadmittedherskirtsweretooshort.The addedheightlefthersoskinnythatinbedKariwouldtickleherribsasifplaying axylophone.TheextracentimetersalsomadeitmoredifficultforKriseetodo someofhermoreacrobaticmoves,whichhadcurtailedhertipsabit.Ifthings didn’timprovesoon,shewouldprobablyendupwithablackmarkforpoor performance.

      Astheywalkedtothebusstop,Kriseesaid,“IheardfromMissKilgore there’sgoingtobeabigmeetingtoday.Theownerissupposedtobethere.”

      “Tai?What’shewant?”Inthelastmonththey’dbothgottenusedto talkingaroundtheirbraces,makingconversationaloteasiertounderstand,plus notnearlyasmuchspitflyingaround.

      “Idon’tknow.Probablytofireusforthatlittlewitch,Val.”Sinceher fallingoutwithKari,Valhadmadeitherlife’sworktoostracizeKariandKrisee fromeveryoneelseattheclub.Sometimeswhenshewentbackstage,Kariheard thegirlswhisperingandgigglingtoeachother;theywouldstopassoonasshe enteredtheroom,whichmeanttheyhadbeentalkingabouther.Kriseereceived thesametreatment.Theotherdancershardlytalkedtohernowandtheynever invitedhertoanypartiesoranythinglikethat.ClearlyValhadtakenKari’s crackaboutValnothavinganyfriendsveryseriously.

      “Youthinkhe’dcalleveryonetogetherforthat?”

      “Sheprobablyinsistedtohumiliateus.Imeanhumiliateusmorethan beingpizza-faceddykes.”

      KaristoppedtogapeatKrisee.“What’sthatsupposedtomean?”

      “Nothing.I’mjustsayingthat’swhattheysayaboutus.Notjustbackstage either.They’vegotthewaitressestellingthecustomersthatstuffsowewon’t getgoodtips.”

      KariputahandonKrisee’sarm.“Comeon,it’snotthatbad.Evenifthey aretalkingaboutus,westillhaveeachother,right?Andwehavelotsoffriends outsidetheclub.”Thoughperhaps“friends”wasn’ttherightword.Therewere otherkidswhosepartiestheywenttoandwhosecouchestheysometimes

      crashedonafteranightofdrinking.

      “That’strue.”

      “Areyouhavingsecondthoughts?Aboutus,Imean?”

      Kriseelookeddownatthesidewalk,herlonghairobscuringherface.“I stillloveyou,Kari.YouknowIdo.It’sjust…it’sjusthardrightnow,you know?It’slikehighschoolalloveragain.”

      KarisawaclocktoweroverKrisee’sshoulder.Shegotonhertoestokiss Kriseeonthelipsandthensaid,“Iknowwhat’llcheeryouup.Wecangoto thatlingerieboutiqueandI’llshopliftyousomethingnicetoweartonight.”

      Kriseegiggledatthis.“Youreallyknowhowtomakeagirlfeelspecial.”

      ***

      Theygottotheclubthemomenttheclockstruckfouronlytofindeveryone elsewaitingonthem.“Thereyoulittlehoodlumsare,”MissKilgoresaid.

      “Whatmischiefhaveyoubeengettingintonow?”

      “Nothing,”theysaidwithidenticalmischievoussmiles.Karihadinfact shopliftedanexpensive,lacybraandpantiesfromthelingerieshop,bothof themalavendercolorthatlookedreallycuteonKrisee.Theydidn’tlookso goodonKari,atleastnotuntilshehitagrowthspurtofherown.

      “Gositdown.Mr.Lecauwillbeheresoon.”

      Karipouredthemeachaglassofvodkaastheywaited.Shedidn’twantto thinkaboutwhatTaihadtosay.Iftheywereluckythiswouldjustbearoutine meetingaboutboringpoliciesorsomesuchthing.Butshecouldn’thelp worryingthatKriseemightberightabouthimwantingtofiretheminfrontof everyoneelse.Orhemightjustgivethemacoupleofblackmarkstomakethem moreawkwardthantheyalreadywere.

      ShelookedarounduntilshesawValsittingatatablewiththeother dancers.CatchingKari’seye,shebegantolaughandwhispersomethingtothe others.ItwasprobablysomebitchylittlecommentaboutKari’sacneormaybe herglassesorbraces.Karilookedaway,notgivingherthesatisfactionof showinganyreaction.

      ShehadfinishedasecondglassofvodkabeforeTaicamethroughthe doors.“SorryI’mlate,”hecalledout,thoughKaridoubtedhewassorryabout anything.Hesatontheendofthestage,wherehecouldlookdownonthem.

      “Allrighteveryone,let’sbringitin.Thatmeansyoutwohooligans.”

      KaritookKrisee’shandandthentheytrudgedovertositdownnexttoMiss Kilgore.KarikeptholdofKrisee’shand,givingitareassuringsqueeze.Krisee gaveherasqueezeback.

      “Now,Ihavebadnewsandgoodnews.Thebadnewsfirst:theclubis goingtobeclosedforthenextthreedays.”Taipausedtowaitfortheshocked

      murmurstodiedown.“Don’tworry,youwillbecompensated.Now,thegood news:wehaveaverybigeventthreedaysfromnow.I’mgoingtobehostinga littlepartyatmyhousewithsomeveryexclusivefriends.Andyougirlsare goingtobetheentertainment.”

      Theshockedmurmursturnedtoexcitedones.Karionlybitdownonher lip.ShecouldsensesomethingTaihadn’ttoldthemyet,anotherpieceofbad news.Val,thelittlesuck-up,raisedherhandasiftheywereinschool.“What kindofshowarewegoingtodo?”

      “Yougirlsdon’thavetoworryaboutdancing,atleastnotthatkind.These areclassygentlemen.Buttheywillrequireanescortfortheevening.”

      NowKariunderstood.Taiwouldbeusinghishouseforabrothelthat evening.His“classy”friendswouldprobablybetakingturnsontheminthe bedroomsallnight.Sheshiveredatthisthought.

      “Thesemenareveryparticularabouttheirescorts,sothisisgoingto requirealittlecostumechangethatwilltakesomegettingusedto.”

      Insteadofjustwinkingatthem,theStoneofChangeonTai’sringbeganto glow.KarigaveKrisee’shandanothersqueezeasshewaitedtoseewhatwould happentothem.Shedidn’thavelongtowait;justafewsecondslatertheir handsbeganshrinking,slippingawayfromeachother.

      Havinggonethroughthisoftenenoughalready,Karionlywatchednumbly asherbodyshrankintothatofascrawnylittlegirl.Thelastof
    hertattoosfaded awayandherpiercingsvanishedsothatshecouldbeaproperchild.Hertank topandleatherskirtbecameasilkypowderbluegown.Theskirtballooned outwardanddescendedtoenvelopherfeetwhilethepuffysleevesofthedress droopedlooselyoverherarms.Onlythetoesofhermatchingblueshoesstuck outfrombeneaththeskirt.Herhairgrewtothemiddleofherback,lighteningto amorenaturalred.Thenitcoileduplikeasnake,wrappingaroundthebackof herheadinanelaboratebraidwhileacurtainofbangsdescendedoverher forehead.Theacnefromherteenagefacedriedupintocrustybrownspotsthat smoothedintocutefreckles.

      Nexttoher,Krisee’schangewasmoresevere.AsKarihadexperienced severaltimesalready,Krisee’sbodyturnedtofatasitcompacted.Herbody inflateduntilevenheroversizedblousebecametight.Herclothessoon expandedintoadresslikeKari’sexceptthatitwaspink.Herhairdarkenedtoa mediumbrownandthenshortenedtohershoulders,whereitflippedupatthe endswhileshetoohadacurtainofbangsoverherforehead.Hercheekspuffed upandacquiredswirlsoffrecklesaswell.OnceKari’sglassesteleportedonto Krisee’sface,sherealizedshewaslookingatherselfatsevenyearsold.

      “I’msoooofat,”Kriseewhined,puttingapudgyhandonhergut.“Whydo

      yougettobeskinny?”

      “ItwaspwobabwyVaw’sidea.”

      KarilookedoveratVal’stableandsawtheotherdancershadlikewise shrunkintolittlekidsinlooseballroomgowns.Valwashardtosee,having becomesotinythatatfirstKaricouldn’tfindherbetweenthebulkydressesthe otherswore.ThenValstoodupandKarisawherformerbestfriendhadbecome atoddleragainwithamassofcurlyblackhaircrownedbyawhitebow.Unlike everyoneelse,herwhitedressactuallyfit.Despitehowtinyshewas,shestill gaveKariahaughtylook,nodoubtknowingallalongwhatTaiwoulddo.

      Whenitwasover,andthegirlsstoppedwhimpering,KarisawTaiandMiss Kilgoreweretheonlyadultsleftintheroom.TheStoneofChangehadstopped itsglowingonTai’sfinger,meaningforthemomenttheyweresafe.

     


    Prev Next
Online Read Free Novel Copyright 2016 - 2025