Laughter erupted around her. They were leaving. Thank, God!
“Oh, wow, someone lost their clothes.”
Ria peeked out long enough to see her underclothes being twirled around.
“Oh, man, these are sweet,” an older scout said.
“Boys, those probably belong to a vagrant. Run and toss them in the trash can.”
The kids took off, making a slingshot out of her thong.
Vagrant! Her thong alone had cost fifteen bucks! The lacy bra thirty-five. She opened her mouth to protest, but the only thing that came out was another loud belch. She hunkered down deeper under the leaves.
At least they were gone. Now what was she supposed to do?
Then it hit her: She was part alien. Everything Kristor had told her was true. But she didn’t want to be an alien. And she certainly didn’t want to go to his planet. She had a women’s meeting tomorrow night. And who would run her business while she was away? Besides, she was not about to get on anything that would leave the ground.
Bzzzzz.
Her tongue shot out and she snatched the fly.
Eww! She’d just eaten a fly. Yuck!
She sniffed. Or attempted to, at least. What if she stayed like this forever? Destined to live her life being chased by boy scouts or worse, ending up in someone’s soup pot, or at Donald’s restaurant.
“Come on, Trisha, no one will see us here. I just want to hold you in my arms.”
Ria looked up. Was that Jeremy Harris? Just her luck. He was really mean. A senior with a chip on his shoulder. His parents had never been able to control him. Wild as a young bull.
She watched until they came into view. It was. He was what?—eighteen, and he was with Trish Simpson. And Trish was only fourteen. Well, almost fifteen, but way too young for the likes of him.
“I don’t know, Jeremy. I don’t think my mom would like knowing I was in the woods with you.”
“I promise I won’t hurt you. You said you liked me. And I just want to hold you.”
“I do like you.”
“Then prove it.”
What a sleaze! Ria opened her mouth and croaked as loud as she could. Trisha jumped and screamed. Jeremy laughed.
“It’s just an old bullfrog. He can’t hurt anything. See.” He removed the plastic lid from his drink and dumped ice and soda on Ria.
She sucked in a deep breath.
“Oh, leave it alone,” Trisha cried.
Jeremy laughed. “It likes the cold, baby. Frogs can’t feel anything.”
Like hell I can’t feel it!
Trisha pouted. “Are you sure?”
He pulled out a lighter. “Yeah, watch this.” He flicked it and the flame shot out.
Ria shied away. Ohmygod, she’d gone from the soup pot to the fire!
“No!” Trisha grabbed his hand. “Jeremy, you’re mean! Everyone is right about you. Don’t ever call me again or I’ll tell my mother!” She turned and stomped through the leaves, heading away from the trees.
Jeremy looked at her…the frog, then kicked a clod of dirt toward Ria before hurrying after Trisha.
Could frogs cry?
Ribbit…burruppa.
Ria didn’t want to be a frog. She wanted to go home. If this was what it meant to be an alien, then she wanted no part of it. If…
Wait a second. If she could think herself a frog, then she should be able to think herself human again. She closed her eyes. I want to go home. I want to…wait, that was a movie. Deep breath. Try again. I’m Ria, and I want to be me again. I want to run through the park. I want my life back. I want…
A deep burning pain gripped her. She couldn’t see, she couldn’t breathe. The world swirled around her. She felt as if someone had her on a rack and stretched her limbs out. She was dying.
Who would tell her parents? Oh, God, no funeral or anything. What could they do? Have a froggie funeral? Kristor might realize she’d shifted, but her family wouldn’t believe the lifeless frog was their daughter.
The burning pain stopped. She opened her eyes. Blinked. The trees were back. She raised an arm, wiggled her fingers. Except for the sticky soda, and the dirt stuck to it, she was human again. She sat up. Yes, she was back. She jumped to her feet.
Yes!
She swung her arms out and twirled around before leaning against the tree as she tried to catch her breath. Then it dawned on her.
She was totally naked.
Chapter 9
Kristor spotted Rianna’s car, and pulled in beside it. He’d worried about her since this afternoon at the pet store. He could see she was starting to have doubts. What if she decided to try shifting? He remembered his first time had been traumatic, although it had gotten easier with time.
It might have been wise if he’d mentioned the downside to shifting. Like the burning pain that would lessen the more times someone changed to animal form. And he probably should have told her that after one shifted back to human form, they wouldn’t have their clothes.
We can only hope that she has attempted to shift and lost her clothes in the process, Labrinon said. Think how much easier it would be to seduce her. Half the work would already be done.
I don’t wish her first time to be terrifying.
I’m almost positive she’s not a virgin.
That’s not what I was talking about.
His gaze scanned the park. It wasn’t that big so it shouldn’t be difficult to find her. He walked down the paved path. If she was running, then they should eventually meet.
“Pssst.”
Kristor waved his hand in front of his face, but he didn’t see the flying insect.
“Pssst,” came louder this time.
He turned. Rianna poked her head around a tree.
“Why are you hiding behind a tree?” he asked.
Her bottom lip quivered. “Because I shifted into a frog, and the scouts chased me, and Jeremy threw his soda on me, then kicked dirt on me…and I’m naked! I want to go home.”
Oh, no, she was about to start crying. He couldn’t handle tears. Nor the sad eyes turned his way, or the pouting lower lip that looked very kissable right now.
He quickly looked away. “Where are your clothes?”
“The boys tossed them in the trash can.”
This was exactly what he’d been afraid of. His mother would not be happy that he hadn’t explained things well enough. He could only hope she wouldn’t find out.
This is your chance! Labrinon screamed at Kristor. She’s begging you to comfort her. Go to her, put your arms around her. Then let everything happen naturally.
Kristor ignored his guide and looked around. He spotted the can, and walked over to it. When he reached inside and pulled her top out, it was covered in food and drink. He retrieved her car keys from her pants pocket and walked back. “Your clothes are ruined. I can go to your house and get more.”
“Don’t leave me!”
What was he supposed to do? Even though the sun was going down, he didn’t think she would want to run across the park naked, although the idea appealed to him. There was only one thing to do. He tugged his shirt over his head as he walked toward her.
“Stop! What are you doing?”
“I was going to give you my shirt.”
“Oh.”
He took another step closer.
“Wait.”
Now what? “Do you want my shirt or not?”
“Yes, but toss it over.”
Women. He tossed it toward her, but it got hung up on a bush. She leaned forward. Kristor caught a flash of tempting pale skin, and realized he was in a pretty good situation. Except she jumped back behind the tree.
“You did that on purpose.”
“No, I didn’t.” But if he’d thought about it, he might have. But he hadn’t, so her accusation was false. “It snagged on the bush. I’ll untangle it.”
“No!”
“Then what would you like me to do?” This was getting tiresome.