Presto Chango, Part Four

Illustrated Version: tgcomics.com/tgc/stories/prest…


Chapter 14

About a month and a half later, Brian was almost ready to do the
underwater escape.  In the mean time, his magic acts were getting more at
more outrageous.  At the moment he was shackled spread-eagled to the floor
of the stage.  Above him dangled an 8000 lb. air conditioning unit on loan
from the contractors who were renovating the hotel.  The unit was held in
place by a stout rope that was slowly burning.  Brian tried desperately to free
himself before the flames burned through the rope, thus dropping the air
conditioner and crushing him.

Ray stood off to the side.  He always hated this trick, even though it
was all an illusion.  Brian would build up the tension until the audience was
sufficiently on edge, then would roll away.  At that cue, Don would cut the
rope from his hiding place in the rafters, dropping the monolithic AC and
making it look like Brian had narrowly escaped death.  Of course, the rope
really was on fire, but Brian was always out of the restraints long before he
was in any actual danger.

Ray adjusted his skirt and waited.  Second ticked by.  Brian threw off
one set of cuffs.  He seemed to really be milking this trick for all it was
worth.  Ray really wished Brian wouldn't take risks like this.  He really
should...

Everything suddenly went in slow motion.  Brian's panicked yell.  
Rays horrified realization that Brian was stuck   Don's frantic  efforts to
douse the flames with the emergency fire extinguisher.  Then...the rope
breaking.  The four-ton machine plunging twenty feet.  The loud crash as it
his the stage.  The dust and confusion.  The lifeless pile of debris on the
stage.  The horrified silence of the audience.

Then....a disheveled and bruised looking Brian climbing out of the
rubbish.  "Whoa!" he said with a smile "I have got to work on that trick
some more!"  The audience burst into laughter.  The air conditioner wasn't
real.  It was a cardboard model.  The whole thing had been a joke.

The thunderous applause was still ringing in Brian's ears as he
triumphantly walked off stage.  He still had it!  "Tired routine, my ass!" he
thought, in reference to a criticism of he act that had appeared in a local paper
the week before.  Man, if that didn't show 'em, nothing will.

We was wearing a huge grin when he came upon Ray.  "Rhea!  Was I
cooking tonight or...."

SMACK!

Brian staggered back from Ray's open handed slap across the cheek.  
"Hey, what's the big idea...?"

"You JERK!"  screamed Ray.  "Do you have any idea of the HELL I
just went through?  Why didn't you tell me you were going to pull as stunt
like that?"  Ray looked like he was going to cry.

"I...I'm sorry....I...wanted to scare everyone...I didn't mean..."

"You bastard!  You couldn't tell me?"

"I wanted it to look real....I..."  The entire back stage crew was
looking at Ray and Brian now.  Tears wear building up in Ray's eyes.

"I hate you!  I never want to talk to you again!"  Ray ran off in the
direction of the dressing room, sobbing.

Brian looked around.  All the stage hands quickly avoided his gaze.  
All except Don who was smirking at him.  

"Oh, not you too!" said Brian.

Don shook his head.  "You got to admit, that was pretty poor
judgment on your part.  Heck, you nearly gave me a heart attack!  Think
what you did to poor Rhea!"

Not for the first time in his life, Brian wished he had thought his
plans through.  "I guess I owe everyone an apology."

"Hey," said Don with a smile. "Don't mind me, I'm thick-skinned.  
But I think you had better practice eating crow for the massive apology
you're going to have to make to Rhea."

"Yeah...any advice?"

"Be charming, suave, and don't be too proud to beg.  Oh, an another
thing..."

"What's that?"

Don was grinning again.  "Well, since you apparently need me to tell
you the obvious, here's another bit of information.  Rhea's nuts about you."

Brian tried to cover his surprise.  "You gotta be kidding!"

"C'mon, open your ears to the gossip!  Don't you think it's weird the way she never dates anyone, but is always hanging around you?  The way she freaked out when you dropped the chainsaw on your foot last week and had to go the emergency room?  The way she is always cutting down your dates?  There's only two reasons a woman would act like that, and since she's not your mother, I think we both know why."  Don's condescending grin now reached from ear to ear.  Brian suddenly felt very embarrassed.  He excused himself to go apologize.

As he walked to the dressing room, he mulled over was Don had said.  It was obvious his good judgment had taken a holiday when he decided to pull a stunt like that without telling anyone.  But the other thing Don had said bothered him.  Ray was a guy!  He'd never be interested in Brian like that.  Don was 100% mistaken.  Yep.  Dead wrong.  180 degrees off....yep...

Brian eventually tracked Ray down, back in his hotel room.  He had
changed from the sultry stage costume into a more comfortable sun dress.  
Brian knocked on the open door that connected their two rooms.

Ray was staring at the wall.  "Go away!"  he said.

"C'mon Rhea, please?"  Brian didn't realize it, but he had been calling
Ray Rhea for some time now, even when they were alone.  Ray turned around and shot
a withering glance at Brian.

Brian looked sheepish.  He snapped his fingers and out of nowhere
appeared a bouquet of roses.  He handed them to Ray with a humble look.

Ray almost succeeded in hiding a slight smile.  Brian leapt at the
advantage.  "Rhea, I'm sorry that I did such an unprofessional stupid thing.  
You're my assistant and my friend and what I did tonight went beyond the
bounds of decency.  I was a jerk and I thought only of myself.  Do you think
you can find it in your heart to forgive me?"  He looked at her with puppy
dog eyes.

Ray widened his smile a bit more.  "I dunno.  Will you promise never
to make changes to the act without telling me?"

"I promise."

"Will you promise not to agree to try some new dangerous stunt without
consulting me first?  I'm part of this act too and this underwater straitjacket
thing makes me sick."

"Okay.  From now on I'll talk with you first."

"And will you take me out to dinner tonight?"

"Yes."

"Okay  You're forgiven.  This once!"  They both smiled.  Ray began
to giggle.  It was a very girlish laugh.  Brian thought of what Don had said
and he began to feel uncomfortable.  He began to look around the room for
something to distract him.  

Everywhere he looked he was evidences of Ray's feminization.  
Panty hose drying in the shower.  Back issues of Cosmo.  A pair of earrings
sitting on the coffee table.  A pair of high heels in the closet.  Brian's eyes
feel on a pile of CDs.  "Hey, new music?" he asked.

Ray seemed to be nervous.  "Oh, that's nothing!"  He squeaked.  
This of course made Brian all the more interested.  He read the title.

"Self hypnosis?  What is this?  Trying to learn Spanish while you
sleep?"

Ray seemed acutely embarrassed.  "No..."

"Well, what is it for then?"

Ray hemmed and hawed.  Finally he said "They train me to think
more like a woman, okay?"

Brian refused to believe it.  He read the label.  It gave no indication of
what message the tape conveyed.  It simply said that one tract contained
subliminal messages to be played while sleeping, the other contained
voice messages for when awake.  Brian popped the disc in to Ray's stereo.  
A sultry woman's voice began talking:

"You are a beautiful woman.  Gorgeous, even sexy!  Men find you
attractive.  They want to touch you, kiss you, make love to you.  You enjoy
this attention.  You enjoy the affections of men.  You like being submissive.  
Letting a man kiss you is the natural thing to do..."

Brian quickly snapped off the tape.  "Rhea!  What in the heck are you
listening to garbage like that for?  It's going to make you sick in the head!"

"It's just to make me feel girlish.  You came in at a bad part of the
tape.  Most of it is about cooking and clothes."

"This is getting out of hand!  You were doing so good pretending to
be a woman!  What do you need some tape to make you think you're a
woman for?"

Ray was silent for a long time.  When he talked, he seemed to be
talking about something totally off the subject.

"Brian, when you are on stage you act different."

Brian was a little confused.  "What do you mean?"

"You act all mysterious and occult.  You're not the fun-loving lunatic
we all know and love."

Brian pretended he didn't hear the last two words.  "Well, sure I do!  
I'm just trying to be your typical stage magician.  It's called a stage persona.  
Everyone does it."

"I'm sure they do.  My point is this:  Imagine what it would be like if
you could never lose your stage persona.  If you always had to be this
mysterious enchanter, you could never be yourself, not for one moment."

Brian was beginning to get the picture.  Ray continued.  "I can't ever
stop being Rhea.  Not ever.  Do you know how hard it is to always remember to use the women's room?  To never pick my teeth or burp?  To never, ever be able to ask out a pretty woman?  I need to learn to think like a girl if I'm going to live like one.  We've been lucky up till now, let's not blow it."

Brian looked Ray in the eyes.  "I just don't want to make you
unhappy.  I know you agreed to do this for me and I don't want you to end
up doing anything to permanent."

Ray giggled.  Brian asked what was so funny.  Ray answered "Well,
it's too late for that.  Thanks to Rosie, I had to do something very permanent last month."

Brian felt very uneasy.  "What?" he managed to squeak out.

"Turn around and close your eyes," said Ray.  Brian obeyed.  He
could hear the sounds of Ray undressing.  "Okay, have a look."

Brian fell out of his chair.  Ray was wearing a short, pink cocktail dress, similar to other ones she’d worn.  But this one was cut much lower in the front.  Much, much lower.  Brian blinked, and looked again.  Ray had breasts!  Real breasts, that jiggled happily out of the top of his dress.  Brian (who had his hands on many pairs in his life) guessed them to be 'C' cups.  They were slightly bruised from the recent surgery, but were real!  

Brian said something incoherent.  He then stared at them for a full minute in stunned silence.

Ray final broke the silence by telling him he was worse than some of
the tourists at the hotel.  This brought Brian joltingly back to reality.

"How....?" he stammered.

"Implants.  It's the latest thing," tittered Ray.  "Now these cost me a
lot of money.  I suggest you find something nice to say."

Brian wanted to tell Ray that he was a complete nutcase, that he had
gone too far, and that he should never have had that done.  But what good
would that have done?  What's done is done.

"Rhea...they look very nice.  Very feminine.  You look great."

"Thanks Brian.  I know you think I'm crazy, but this will be more
convenient in the long run.  Now that I've started thinking of myself as a girl
things are so much easier.  We'll sort it all out after this gig is over.  Well,
if you're taking me out tonight, I'd better get ready."  Ray stepped into his
bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Brian watched as Ray's red hair disappeared behind the door.  
He then numbly staggered back to his own room.  Ray had looked just like a
female.  Brian had a hard time admitting it to himself, but Rhea was quite
attractive.  Brian knew that if hadn't known Rhea's secret he would be doing
back flips with excitement of the prospect of taking "her" to dinner.  He also
knew that under normal circumstances he would have tried to get Rhea into
bed long ago.  Finally, he realized he had stared at Rhea's new breasts a bit
longer than curiosity demanded.

Brian began to wonder if Ray was the only one who was thinking of
Rhea as a real woman.

Chapter 15

Ray stood atop the high dive, fifteen feet above the hotel's swimming
pool.  He was wondering if it would be possible to find a bikini top that left
less to the imagination.  This one covered little more than his nipples (which
were clearly outlined through the thin fabric).  Next to Ray stood Brian.  He
was bound in a straitjacket, leg irons, a length of chain wrapped around
his body, and a pair of manacles holding the arms of the straitjacket
together.  He was also wearing his magician's hat.

Beneath Ray and Brian stood a crowd of several hundred.  Mr. Penny
had been hyping this escape for months; it seemed as if the whole population
of Las Vegas had turned out.  The stands the hotel had set out were full to
capacity, many more spectators watched from the field beyond with
binoculars.  A local TV station was even there to cover it.  An ambulance and
two EMTs stood by.  Don, armed with bolt cutters, stood at the shallow end
of the pool, waiting to give emergency assistance.

Brian was in rapture.  He had never performed for an audience like
this.  This was his dream.  Ray, on the other hand, wished he could get out
of the uncomfortable bikini and high heels and into a nice warm bath.  The
cold air at this height was doing little to conceal his already erect nipples.  It was so embarrassing.  The only thing he was doing was holding the microphone for Brian.  Still, it was a big crowd, and Mr. Penny had insisted that Rhea dress sexily.

The trick went off as planned.  With a final farewell to the audience
Brian flipped into the pool.  He stayed underwater just long enough to make
everyone nervous, then came out panting, free from the chains.  Ray pretended to be
greatly relieved, even though he knew Brian could have escaped from five straitjackets in that time.

Ray climbed down, and locked hands with Brian.  They both took a
bow.  Ray, on the spur of the moment, reached up and kissed Brian on the
cheek.  That was the only time during the trick that Brian seemed nervous.

As soon as Ray could, he excused himself from the tangle of
photographers and autograph seekers and walked into the pool locker room.  
He kicked off his high heels, threw on a robe, and headed back to his room.  

Before he could reach the door to the hotel, he heard someone behind
him nervously say "Excuse me?"

Ray turned around.  Behind him was a young man, about 20 or 21.  
He had a lantern jaw, dark hair, and was of more than average height.  He
was rather handsome.  For some reason he looked very uncomfortable.

"Uh, hi," he stammered.  "Uh, that was a good show you guys put
on."

"Thanks," replied Ray.  "If you like, you can buy a video of it in the
gift shop."

"Uh, okay.  Um....listen...would you...uh, like to have dinner with
me tonight?" he suddenly blurted out.  "My name is Larry."  He added,
almost as an afterthought.

Ray was prepared to say no.  Since he had become Rhea, dozens of
guys had asked him out.  Ray remembered what it was like being rejected as
a guy, so he always let them down gently.  That is, unless they were jerks.  
Then he took great pleasure in giving them a coarse 'no.'

There was something different about this guy, though.  He seemed so
uncomfortable.  It was like he was sure Rhea would turn him down, but
didn't want to give up his only chance to ask 'her' out.  Ray smiled to
himself.  Larry must think that Rhea was some sort of model or famous
performer that he didn't have a chance with.  Well, what the heck!

"O.K." said Ray.  "Meet me at 8:00 at Pancho's."  Pancho's was a
bar/restaurant in the hotel.  It was nice, but not too pricey.

Larry looked like he had won the lottery.  "Great!" he practically
shouted.  "I'll see you there!"

Ray sat in front of the makeup table that he had had installed in his
hotel room.  He was trying on various shades and colors, so see which
would go best with the new outfit that hung in his closet.  It was a racy little
black skirt, with a matching red blouse and pumps.  Ray had also purchased
a little black purse, some earrings, and some black nylons.  Even though Ray
had no intentions of becoming romantically involved with Larry, he might as
well look his prettiest.

Brian banged on the door, then staggered in right after Ray said
"Come in."  Ray sighed.  Brian was still wearing the soaking wet clothes he
wore during the trick.

"Rhea!" he shouted.  "We were great!  They loved us!"  Ray smiled.  
Brian always said they loved 'us,' or 'we' did it, even though Brian was the
one the audiences came to see.  He really did consider Ray an important part
of the act.

"Congratulations," smiled Ray.  "You did great.  Are you ever going
to change your clothes?"

"In a minute.  Say, why are you getting all dolled up?  Got a hot date
tonight?"  Brian grinned.

Ray grinned back.  "As a matter of fact, I do."  

Brian stopped grinning.  "A date?  With who?"

Rhea slowly applied some lipstick, just to add to Brian's suspense.  
When he was confident it looked okay, he said "Larry.  A nice young man I
met after the act."

Brian said several incoherent things before he got out a complete
sentence.  "A guy!  Are you nuts?  Why?"

"Well, you don't expect me to sit at home on a Saturday night, do
you?"  said Ray, coyly.

"That's not the point!  You...you're a guy too!"

"Not as far as Larry is concerned.  Don't worry, he'll never find out."

"What if he tries to hold your hand?"

"I suppose I'll let him."

"What if he tries to kiss you?"

"Well, he is paying for dinner.  I suppose a nice kiss would be in order."

"What if he tries to get you into bed?"

"He probably will.  Don't worry, I'll just excuse myself.  It wouldn't
be lady-like to sleep with him on the first date.  Do you like these earrings?"  

"What are you dating a guy for anyway?"  Brian was hollering now.

"I can't very well date a girl, can I?  Look, I'm not attracted to him, if
that's what you mean.  I just don't think there is anything wrong with going
out to dinner with someone.  If he gets too serious, I'll just break it off."

Brian was about to say something else, but Ray cut him off.  "Get out
of here, I have to change for tonight."  He smiled.  "Don't wait up!"

Chapter 16

It took Ray over two hours to get ready for the evening, but the
results were well worth it.  Powdered, perfumed, and primped, he looked
like he belonged on the runway of a fashion show.  The short skirt and low
cut blouse showed off just enough flesh to be erotic, but not enough to be
slutty.  Ray checked his makeup one last time, then headed off for Pancho's.

Larry was waiting in the lobby.  Ray took a lot of pleasure in Larry's
open-mouthed, stunned reaction.  Apparently Ray looked even better than
Larry had remembered.  Ray gratefully accepted the small bouquet of roses
he offered.  Ray then offered his arm to Larry, and arm in arm, they walked
into the restaurant.

Ray could tell that Larry was trying to do everything he could to
impress Rhea.  He pulled out Rhea's chair, complemented Rhea repeatedly
on 'her' looks, and tried to act macho.  Ray remembered Tracy's advice
about what to do on a date.  He steered the conversation towards Larry's
interests.

Larry was an engineering student at the University of Las Vegas.  He
worked nights as a bartender at a smaller casino.  He was an amateur boxer
and photographer.  Ray listened with interest like a good girl should.  Ray
found himself becoming impressed with Larry's stories.  He was apparently
quite an athlete, with intelligence to match.  Larry, despite all his
accomplishments, seemed just slightly unsure of himself around Ray, which
Ray found quite cute.  Ray also found himself 'checking out' Larry's body.  
Aside from his handsome face, Larry had the well developed muscles of an
athlete.  While Ray didn't actually feel lust for Larry, he was developing quite
a crush on him.  Ray attributed this to a combination of hormones and the
hypnosis tapes.

Larry finished talking about himself when the dessert arrived.  Tracy
was right, guys tended to talk about themselves a lot.  Larry asked Rhea to
tell a little about 'herself.'

Ray told what was almost the truth:  he had just graduated high school
(he had in fact received his diploma in the mail the previous week) and that he
was working as Brian's assistant for a year.  Of course, Ray left out any
reference to his life before this year.  Larry thought of him as a woman, and
Ray was determined not to destroy his misconception.  Larry seemed
enamored with what Rhea did as a magician's assistant.  Soon Ray was
reciting lots of stories about his career in magic.

After dinner, Larry asked Ray if he would like to go for a walk.  
Soon they were walking down the neon lit streets of Vegas.  As they walked
side by side, Ray noticed Larry doing something a bit odd with his hand.  
First he'd hold it a bit out to his side, then quickly retract it.  Ray blushed
internally when he realized that Larry wanted to hold his hand, but was too
shy to make a grab for it.  Ray moved his small hand, ever so slightly, in
Larry's direction.  That seemed to give Larry the confidence he needed.  He
gently wrapped his strong hand around Ray's long-nailed fingers.

Eventually, they wound up in front of Ray's hotel room door.  Larry
seemed quite disappointed when he realized the date was over.

"I...I had a really good time Rhea."  

"So did I Larry."

"Can I see you again?"

"You bet.  Give me a call."

"Okay....."  Larry hesitated.  Ray suddenly realized that Larry was
trying to decide whether to kiss him.  Before Ray could react, Larry suddenly
moved forward and pressed his lips against Ray's.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion for Ray.  The pressure of
Larry's lips on his own.  The slight scratchy feel of his chin.  His hot breath.  
His hand pressed gently on Ray's cheek.  It seemed to go on forever.

Larry finally pulled back.  "Good night, Rhea," he said and was
gone.

Ray quietly slipped into his room.  He then undressed and drew
himself a bath.  As he laid back in the bubbly water, he thought back over the
evening.  He had dated a guy!  He had held hands with a guy!  He was been
kissed by a guy!  Ray couldn't help giggling.

When he first had agreed to be a woman, such an evening would have
been sheer horror.  Now, he simply felt giddy.  What caused this strange
new attitude?  The hormones?  They hypnotism?  Maybe just being treated
like a woman all this time?

Ray didn't feel uncomfortable, or disgusted; just a little nervous.  He
would have to be careful with Larry.  He couldn't let him go too far for
obvious reasons.  At the same time, he didn't want to hurt Larry's feelings.

Ray dried himself off and slipped on a pair of panties.  He regarded
his reflection in a full length mirror.  He certainly looked like a pretty teenage girl.
He acted like one too.  It wouldn't be easy going back.  He'd have to take massive doses of male hormones,
have several operations to put his chest back to normal, and probably drop out of society for a while he
changed.  Even then, he would still look rather feminine.

Still, it had been worth it.  He had graduated high school.  He had a
huge nest egg saved up.  He had some great acting experience.  It would be
rough going back from Rhea to Ray, but one thing was certain: he was
looking forward too it.  Being a woman had it's advantages, but he was a
man, and it was about time he started acting like one.

Chapter 17

Ray went out with Larry several times in the next few weeks.  Movies, dinner,
ball games; typical get-to-know-each-other dates.  Larry always tried to go a little farther with Ray,
but was always denied.  Ray only allowed him some open-mouthed kisses, and once, when Ray was a bit drunk,
to put his hand under his blouse.

One night, when Ray and Larry were driving out to the desert to see a
fireworks display, Brian sat in his hotel room thinking.  This dating business
of Rhea's had made him feel quite uneasy, and he decided to think it out.

He lay down on his bed with a bottle of beer and began to think.  
Every time Rhea talked about going out with Larry, Brian felt sick to his
stomach.  Why was that?  He came up with several possible answers.

Was he feeling guilty because Ray's feminization had gone so far?  
No, he thought.  All Brian had wanted was for Ray to dress like a woman.  
This business with breast implants and dating men was Ray's doing, not his.

Was he worried about Ray?  That could be it.  Brian knew how guys
thought.  It would only be a matter of time before Larry seriously started to
try to get into Ray's panties and he probably would not like what he found.  
Still, Ray was very confident.  He could probably keep Larry at bay forever.  
Ray wouldn't be one to get himself in a compromising position, and Larry
seemed like someone who could take 'no' for an answer.

Was Brian feeling a little disgusted because he thought Ray might be
homosexual?  Brian thought about it and dismissed it.  Gay people never
really bothered him.  There were several openly homosexual men working in the
hotel and Brian never went out of his way to avoid them.  If Ray turned about
to be gay then it shouldn't be any different.

Brian opened another bottle of beer.  His thoughts were taking him in
places he didn't like, but he had to be honest with himself.  He thought of his
attitude towards Ray over the past year.  When Ray first started being Rhea,
Brian always felt nervous and uncomfortable.  He knew Ray wasn't happy
and he partially blamed himself.  When Ray began to grow more confident,
Brian felt slightly proud.  It was like when he had first seen his tomboyish
kid sister in her prom dress:  Ray had become a beautiful young woman.  
Then.....well, Brian really hated to admit it, but he had caught himself
looking at Ray in ways he wouldn't look at a male friend, such as when Ray
was laying by the pool, or in his skimpy costume, or even laying next to him
on the bed as they watched TV and talked.  Whenever he caught himself, he
always felt guilty, like he had been caught leering at his best friend's wife.  
Why was that?

Brian thought and thought.  Every man has a weakness when it comes
to women.  Some like blondes, some like athletic women, some like big
busted ladies.  With Brian, it was redheads.  There was something about a
woman with red hair that drove him nuts.  

Brian really didn't like this line of thought.  Could it be that he was
attracted to Ray?  That he was jealous of Larry?  What could this mean?

Brian felt scared.  Was he gay?  It seemed doubtful.  If he was gay he
would more likely attracted to Don or some other guy.  Ray...well...

After much thought, Brian came to several conclusions:

1)  Rhea, looked, acted, thought, and expected to be treated like a woman.

2)  If Rhea was a real woman, Brian would be very attracted to her.

3)  Brian had developed a massive crush on Rhea.

This last conclusion was the hardest to admit, but it really didn't seem
so strange.  Rhea looked very attractive, it was natural for a guy like him to
think she was pretty.  Lots of other guys did.  

Brian downed another beer.  Now that he had admitted it to himself,
the course of action seemed clear.  He'd put all these thoughts aside, let Ray
behave how he wanted, and help him go back to manhood as soon as he
could.  They only had a little over a month left on their contract.  Besides, it
wasn't as if Ray felt the same way about Brian!

Brian was interrupted by a knock at the door.  It was Ray.  He was
still wearing the tight T-shirt and cut-offs he had worn on his date with Larry.  
He long red hair hung in disarray about his face.  The T-shirt showed off his
figure, the cut-offs showed off his slim, freckled legs.  Brian realized he was
staring and looked away.  Ray came in, helped himself to a beer, and sat on
the edge of Brian's bed.

"How was your date?" asked Brian.

"It was fine....no, that's not true.  Larry and I broke up."

"Oh, uh...I'm sorry."  Brian wasn't sure if he was supposed to offer
sympathy or not, though he did feel a slight bit of jealous triumph.

"Don't be," replied Ray in a melancholy voice.  "It wouldn't have
lasted anyway."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Well, we were in the desert, lying on a blanket, watching the
fireworks...Larry rolled over towards me and...well, you can guess."  Ray
smiled a little.

"That jerk!  I ought to bust his head!"

"Calm down, Conan.  You're the last guy to get self righteous.  Larry
didn't force himself on me or anything.  If I was a real girl I'd have gladly
given myself to him.  But I'm a man, at least mentally.  I can't make love to a
guy, and I really don't want to.  Larry didn't deserve to be led on, so I broke
up with him."

"Well, you'll be going back to being a man, soon.  Maybe it's for the
best.  How did you let him down?"

Ray suddenly seemed silent.  "Well....I told him that I was getting
back together with an old boyfriend."

"You got to be careful when you use that excuse.  It could be easy to
prove this 'boyfriend' of yours doesn't exist."

Ray began to blush.  "Oh, he exists all right."

For no particular reason, Brian suddenly felt very scared.  "Who is
he?"

"You."

"Me?  What right do you have to say something like that?  Why didn't
you ask me?"

"I panicked.  Don's dating someone else and you were the only other
guy I could think of.  Don't worry, it won't be too hard for you."

"What makes you think I'm going to go along with this?"

"Because I've been dressing like a woman for almost a year, just to
save your career.  The least you can do is act like my boyfriend.  Half the
hotel staff thinks we're dating anyway.  And don't give me any macho crap
about not wanting to date a guy.  I gave up my manhood for you, so you can
make this small sacrifice for me."

Brian was backed into a corner.  "So...what do I have to do?"  he
asked.

"Just take me out to dinner every now and then.  Hold my hand in
public.  Give me a kiss every so often.  You know how it's done."

Brian was internally freaking out.  This would not be helpful in his
efforts to think of Ray as a man.  Ray misinterpreted Brian's scared
expression.  "C'mon," said Ray.  "You've kissed lots of women.  Just close
you eyes and pretend I'm the playmate of the year."

Ray was sitting quite close to Brian now.  They both closed their eyes
and kissed.  Ray then left for his own room.  Brian laid back and stared at
this ceiling.  He could still taste Ray's lipstick.

Chapter 18

The last five weeks were the easiest for Ray and the hardest for Brian.  
Ray took to the role of Brian's girlfriend quite well.  They began to spend
almost all their free time together.  Ray rather enjoyed the company of the
big, handsome magician.  They did all the things new couples do: dancing,
flirting during solemn events, buying little gifts for each other.

For Brian, the last few weeks were rough.  It was hard dating
someone who he knew he wasn't supposed to be attracted to, but was.  Ray
was really starting to get to him: giving Brian hugs while he was wearing a
little bikini, massaging his shoulders, dozing off on his chest as they lay in
bed.  It seemed everything Ray did was calculated to turn Brian on.  This
redhead was constantly on Brian's mind.  Brian caught himself kissing Ray a
lot more then was needed to convey the image that they were dating (he
occasionally had to stop himself from kissing Ray behind closed doors).  
Brian could have insisted that Larry was long gone and there was no need to
keep this up, but he never did.  Not that Ray ever complained.  He seemed to
like Brian's attentions.  

The worst part of it for Brian was that Rhea would disappear in a few
weeks, never to return.  At first Brian welcomed the end of this curious
relationship.  Now he dreaded it.  He often wondered how Ray felt about
him, but was afraid to bring it up.

One day before their contracts expired, several important things
happened to Ray and Brian.  The first thing was that the both received
incredible news over the phone.

Brian nearly crashed into Ray as he darted from his own room to
Ray's.  "Rhea!  I have the most amazing news!"

"So do I!" said Ray.  He was wearing a white crop top blouse that
showed off both his freckled shoulders and stomach, with matching cotton
pants.  

"You go first," said Brian, trying to concentrate on what Ray was
saying and not what he was wearing.

"I just got off the phone with Tracy.  She's pregnant!"  

Brian embraced Ray with an enormous hug.  "That's incredible!  I
know how much she's wanted a kid.  Did she say anything else?"

"No, she's at the doctor's.  She just found out herself.  She said
she'll write us a detailed letter as soon as she can.  So what was your big
news?"

Brian grinned.  "You're not going to believe this.  I just got off the
phone with a talent scout for the David Letterman show!  They want me to
appear on the show!"

Ray shrieked a very feminine shriek and jumped into Brian's arms.  
"That's wonderful!  Are you serious?"

"You bet," said Brian, guiltily enjoying Ray pressing against him.  "I
go on after the dog that can deal blackjack."  He smiled at Ray.  "I've finally
done it.  This is the big times.  I could never have done it without you."

Suddenly Ray felt scared.  He disentangled himself from Brian's
grasp.  "Did...well, am I expected to go on with you?"

"They said you were welcome to, or if you couldn't make it, they
could provide me with a girl who's had experience with stage magic."  
Suddenly Brian felt scared too.

"What did you tell them?" asked Ray.

"I told them that naturally I would prefer you, but I'd have to ask you
first.  What do you say?  National television!  The taping's scheduled for two
months from now."

Ray looked Brian straight in the eye.  "Brian...there's nothing more
I'd like to do than to be with you in your big moment.  But...our contract is
up.  Now I have to go back to being what I really am: a man."

Brian felt sick.  "It'll only be a couple more months.  Couldn't you
wait until after?  They're prepared to pay you a nice sum of money."

Ray took Brian's hand.  "If you really needed me, I'd be there for
you, but you don't.  They girl they're providing you with will be fine.  
Brian, I've already given up a year of my manhood.  It might take me another
year before I'm all male again.  I'm sorry, I can't put it off any more.  
Besides, I want to maintain low profile when I change back, and going on
national TV won't help that."

Brian clutched Ray's hand tighter.  "Rhea...I don't want you to
change back..."

"C'mon Brian, you'll do fine without me."

"It's not about the act, Rhea!"

Ray was quiet for a while.  "What do you mean?"

Brian decided it was time to be honest, both with himself and with
Ray.  "Rhea...these past few weeks, well months...I've developed feelings
for you.  I tried to deny them, but I can't.  When I was pretending to be your
boyfriend, well, I enjoyed it.  I kind of wished we weren't just pretending..."

Ray smiled.  "Brian, I'd be lying if I said I never felt the same way
about you."

Brian put his hands on Ray's hips.  "What I'm trying to say is...well...I care about you.  
A lot.  More than a friend.  I...well...I wish you could just stay Rhea.  
You've become a beautiful young woman.  Do you really need to go back?"

Both Ray and Brian were surprised at the longing and desperation in
his voice.  It was a while before Ray spoke.  "Brian, if I was a real woman
I'd never leave you.  Never.  I'd love to be at your side, always.  But lets
face facts.  I may look like a woman, but I'm not.  I may act feminine, but I
still think of myself as a man.  I have to go back to manhood."

Brian tried to keep the hurt out of his voice.  "So what are you going
to do?"

"I've been talking to Tracy and David.  By the way, David knows
about me.  Tracy was right, he understood.  Anyway, I've decided to move
to Australia for the next few months.  No one but Tracy and David know me
there.  I can have my breasts removed, get on male hormones, and come back
to the States as a man."

Brian couldn't remember the last time he had felt this bad.  "I'm going
to miss you, Rhea.  I can't say that your choice isn't making me miserable,
but I know you have to do what you think is right."

"I'll miss you Brian.  I'll still be in your life.  I'll just be your friend,
not your girlfriend.  I have to go pack now.  I guess this is good bye for a while."

"I guess so.  Do they get Letterman down there?"

"I'm sure they do.  Good bye Brian.  And thanks.  If it wasn't for
you I'd still be broke in Dead Springs."

"Good bye Rhea."

Ray smile and began to leave.  Without thinking, Brian grabbed him
around the waist.  After a split second's hesitation, Brian kissed Ray.  Every
other kiss they shared they could justify as 'part of the act.'  Not this one.  
They were alone.  He kissed her hard and deep.  Full of passion, full of fire.  
Not a friendly kiss, not a stage kiss, but a kiss.  The kiss that a man can only
give to a woman he cares very deeply for.  This kiss lasted a long, long time.

And Ray kissed back.

Ray suddenly pulled away.  "I have to go," he said, and was gone.  Both he
and Brian had tears in their eyes.

Chapter 19

Two months later, Brian appeared on the David Letterman show.  
Every trick was amazing.  Brian was witty, joked around with Dave, and
basically impressed everyone.  It should have been the happiest day of his
life.  It wasn't.

The female assistant he had been provided with was attractive,
professional, and did everything right, but all Brian could think was "She's
not Rhea."

Brian's career really took off after that.  Instead of signing on with
another resort or casino, he went on the road, making very large sums for
weekend appearances.  He was a hit.  But the whole time, all he could think
of was Rhea.

He didn't know why Rhea's absence bothered him so much.  No
other woman had messed him up like this before.  Brian tried to tell himself
that he was just sore because Rhea had left so suddenly and there had never
been any closure to their relationship.  He hated to think he harbored such
strong feelings for someone who, for all practical purposes, no longer
existed.

Not that Brian lost track of Rhea/Ray.  Several times a month he
would receive a letter from either Tracy or Ray.   Tracy talked almost
unceasingly about the expected baby: baby names, shopping for baby
clothes, her baby shower.  Ray's letters were usually more detailed.  He
would talk about the culture shock of living in Australia, Tracy and David's
palatial house, finding an apartment, the beautiful oceans.  Brian searched
and searched for a reference to Ray's change back to manhood, but could
find none.  He couldn't even tell which name he was referring to himself as;
he never put his name on the return address and his signature was too
scrawled to make out.

It was obvious what was happening.  Ray probably had already
successfully made it back to manhood.  He was trying to forget what had
happened in the past year.  It hurt Brian that what had passed between them
could be written off so easily, but he really couldn't blame Ray.  It was
probably embarrassing for him and he didn't want to be reminded.  Brian
didn't realize it, but he was in for a major shock.

The shock came early one afternoon.  Brian had just finished off a six
city tour and was planning on spending some time resting in the apartment he
rented and lived in when he wasn't on the road.  He checked his mail.

The first few letters were depressing.  Two more of his letters to Ray
came back marked "Moved, no forwarding address."  This had happened
several times before.  Tracy would always sidestep the issue when Brian
asked.  She claimed not to know Ray's whereabouts.  Brian got the
impression that Tracy knew more than she let on, but wasn't talking.

Brian leafed through the rest of his mail.  Bills, junk mail (Bryan
Howard, you've just won $1,000,000!; Mr. Howard, let us send you and
your wife a trial copy of Shimonize Car Wax).  Same old garbage.  

The last thing in the pile was a medium size package.  Brian assumed
it was the "Wackiest Bloopers of the NHL" tape he had ordered.  One look
at the package showed him otherwise.  There was no return address.  It was
postmarked in an Asian alphabet that Brian didn't recognize.  Brian looked at his own address.  
It was Ray's unmistakable handwriting.  

Brian dashed inside and opened the package.  Inside was a short letter
and a flat package.  He read the letter.

Dear Brian,

I am so sorry I haven't responded to your letters in so long.  Believe
me, you've been on my mind!  I saw a tape of your Letterman show, you
were fabulous!

Brian, there has been a lot going on in my life.  Too much to express
in this one letter.  I've been doing a lot of soul searching.  There are some
things we need to discuss.  I am out of Australia at the moment, but I should
be back in a month.  Are you busy then?  Do you think you could come visit
me?  It would mean a lot to me.

I've taken the liberty of arranging and airline ticket for you to come
down here when I get back.  You can pick it up at the airport.  Please come, it
would mean the world to me.

I miss you!

(at this point was an illegible signature)

P.S.  I never told you, but I've been on TV as well!  My dream to act finally
came true.  For the past season I've been staring in the Australian action
show, "Summer Heat."  Unfortunately my character got killed off in the last
episode so I won't be back next year (Ray had drawn a little smiley face
here).  Enclosed you'll find a magazine that interviewed me recently.

Brian tore open the package and began flipping through the enclosed men’s magazine, searching for Ray’s interview.  Of course he would go see Ray.  It was obvious Ray had completely gone back to manhood.  Ray would never be allowed on some macho Australian action show if he looked feminine.  Brian tried to picture a now muscular Ray driving some sports car, making out with beautiful women and chasing down drug dealers (or whatever the show's premise was).  He just couldn't get his mind around it.

Brian couldn’t find the interview and turned back to the cover.  He took a
bite of the sandwich he was eating and nearly choked to death.  There, right on the cover was Rhea!  
Not Ray, but Rhea!  It couldn't have been a mistake.  The
red hair, the freckles, the slim figure!  Ray had not only not changed back to
a man, but he looked even more girlish than Brian remembered.  She was dressed in lingerie,
the sort of outfit designed to be sexy while covering more skin than a one-piece swimsuit.  
Still, it was quite obvious Ray hadn’t gone through with his plans to have his implants removed.

Brian turned to the interview.  It consisted of about ten mindless questions and an equal number of cheesecake poses, as well as some stills from the TV show.  There was Ray, showing of his incredible body, for all of the Southern Hemisphere to see!  What happened to Ray’s plans to become a man again?  What was he trying to tell Brian?

Brian was stunned to say the least.  He sat and stared at the blank
screen for some time.  He then got up and called the airport.

One month later, Brian was in an Australian airport.  He collected his
luggage and looked around.  He hoped that Ray would meet him at the plane.  
He looked through the crowded terminal.  Suddenly, he saw a familiar person.  
It was Tracy.  She recognized him at the same time.  Then ran towards each
other and hugged (it was a long reach for Brian; Tracy was over eight months
along).  After catching  up, Brian broached the subject that had brought him
halfway around the world.

"So...uh...where's...Rhea?"

Tracy smiled.  "Brian, a lot has happened since Rhea moved down
here.  She should be the one to explain.  C'mon, we'll take a taxi."

Brian and Tracy stepped into the cab.  Tracy gave the driver
directions.  They came to a stop in front of a modest, though well kept,
bungalow.  "This is your stop Brian.  Rhea said go right in.  I'll see you
later."

Brian found himself standing alone on the porch of the little house.  
After the slightest hesitation, he knocked.

"Come in!" said a familiar feminine voice.  It was Ray/Rhea.

Brian stepped in.  When he saw what was behind the door, he
realized his long trip had been worth it.  There stood Rhea (for it was
ridiculous to think of such a female person as 'Ray').  Rhea was wearing the
same cropped top he had been wearing when he and Brian parted company.  
His red hair was pulled back into a pony tail.  The warm Australian sun
seemed to have given him even more freckles.  Rhea was smiling nervously,
as if trying to gauge Brian's reaction.

"Hello, Brian."

"Hello, Rhea."  There was a long pause.  Rhea finally broke it.  
"Brian," began Rhea "Have a seat.  There's a lot I need to tell you.  You have
every right to be mad at me, but just give me a chance to explain."  Rhea sat
down on the couch.  Brian sat next to him, a blank expression on his face.  
Rhea began.

"Brian, when I first left the U.S., I had every intention of going back
to being a man.  I rented this little place, started researching doctors, and
made plans to have my breasts removed.  All I wanted way to go back to
being Ray.  As you can see, it didn't turn out like that.

"When I first got here I wanted to catch up with Tracy and David.  
We spent so much time talking and sightseeing that I never got around to
beginning the change.  By that time I had become friends with a lot of Tracy
and David's friends, and was doing a lot of stuff with them.  I kept telling
myself that next week was the week.  Then, at a party, I met a guy who was
an agent.  When I told him I was interested in acting, he told me I should try
out for that part in "Summer Heat."  Before I knew what was happening, I
had signed a contract.  Obviously, I couldn't let on that I wasn't really a
woman.

"One night I sat down to think.  I realized that for the past months I
had just been making excuses.  I didn't want to change back.  Now that I was
a woman I was popular, confident, and exciting.  The thought of going back
to being boring, unattractive Ray just didn't do it for me.  I talked to Tracy.  
We decided the best course of action.

"Soon, I set off for Thailand.  In a secluded clinic, I became the
woman you see now.  Totally and irreversibly.  Ray will never be back,
Brian.

"As I recovered in Bangkok, I still felt that there was something
wrong with my life.  At first, I was terrified I had made the wrong decision.  
After a while, I realized that that wasn't it."  Rhea moved closer to Brian.  
"It was you Brian.  I missed you.  I missed everything about you.  Every night
as I lay there I wished that you'd come in through the door and carry me off
into the sunset.  I cried and cried when I thought of how stupid I was to leave
you.  That was when I wrote you.

"Brian, when I left, you said you wished we weren't just pretending
that I was your girlfriend.  Well, thanks to my surgery, we don't have to.  I
know you probably hate me for leaving, and I wouldn't blame you if you
stormed right out of here.  But remember this Brian:  I love you."

Rhea had not looked Brian in the eyes since she had started talking.  
She (for she was a she now) finally looked up.  Brian had never seen
such longing and desire in anyone's face before (though if he had looked in a
mirror at that moment, he would have).  

Brian was confused for a number of reasons.  Jet lag, thinking Rhea
was gone for good and then having her appear again, Rhea's gorgeous body, her
startling speech, the cute Australian accent she was slightly developing.  
There was one thing, however, he was not confused about at all.

"I love you too, Rhea," said Brian.  He then kissed her.  Hot and
deep, passionate and loving.  Rhea kissed back.  After a long time, Brian
stood up.  Then, much to Rheas delight, he slipped one arm around her back,
one under her legs, and carried her into the bedroom.

Many, many hours later Brian and Rhea lay naked under her sheets,
pale in the moonlight.  Neither of them had spoken for some time.  Both had
their arms wrapped tightly around each other.  They had been apart long
enough; neither wanted to let go of the other, ever again.  Brian lovingly ran
his hand down Rhea's back and caressed her tight buttocks.  Rhea squealed.  
They kissed.

"Rhea, you're fantastic," said Brian, with deep feeling.

"Brian, you're the greatest magician in the world,"  said Rhea.

That struck Brian as a bit of an odd thing to say.  "Why do you bring
that up?" he asked.

Rhea smiled.  She sat up in bed, unashamedly revealing her naked
torso.  "Because, Brian, you changed me from a skinny, unpopular boy
with low self esteem into a beautiful, exciting woman who is madly in love
with the man of her dreams.  A year and a half ago I was afraid to even slip
on a dress, now I have to wear a bra.  Twelve months ago I wished I had a
girlfriend, now I am your girlfriend!  Only a master magician could have
performed a transformation like that!"  She leaned over and kissed Brian.  
Their bare chests touched.

Brian wrapped his strong arms around the little redhead.  "In that case
Rhea, I'd like to transform you into something else."

Rhea was shocked.  "Into what?"

Both of Brian's hand's were busily caressing Rhea's body, but
nevertheless, she felt something hard and metallic magically slide around the
ring finger of her left hand.

Brian positioned himself on top of her.  "I'd like to transform you
from my girlfriend into my wife."

"Brian," she said, as she felt Brian enter her "that's a transformation
I'll readily undergo."  

Neither of them said anything else.  There was no need to.


Author's note: to see this story with incredible illustrations by Fraylim, follow this link: tgcomics.com/stories/storiesC/…