A pretty girl was watching over me. Was she an angel? Was I dreaming? 

"Joanne, are you okay?"

"Hello, pretty lady? Are you here to take me to heaven?" Do angels take people to heaven? Or do they just live there? Philosophy wasn’t my strong suit. There was a pretty lady and I was going to flirt a little. 

My voice sounded wrong. Why was that? Who was this pretty lady and why couldn't I move?

"It's gonna be okay, Joanne, just sit tight."

"Okay, angel lady!" Still couldn't figure out what was wrong with my voice. It didn't sound like me, but I know I was saying those things to the angel. Was I sick? Maybe that's why the angel was here. I didn't want her to go if that was the case. If I was going to die, I at least wanted to talk to her. I reached out to grab her, but only managed to grab her pants which immediately fell.

"Eep!" The lady squeaked.

"I'm sorry, angel lady. But can you stay here?"

"I have to go check on the other three, but I'll be back." That was exciting. I'd get more time with the angel, and she didn't make it sound like I was dying. Bonus!

------

Angel, she'd called me an angel. My heart was pounding. God, I wished I could stay like this. But I couldn't. I'd go back to being Justin eventually. 

"Goldielocks, you okay?"

"I guess I know how much of me has changed now." I'd only caught a glimpse, but as far as I could tell I was done transforming.  

"What?"

"She accidentally pulled my pants down, Clay" I explained.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm pretty sure. It's just weird she called me an angel"

"Your whole body has changed and you're worried about your delirious friend calling you an angel?" I tried to ignore the body changing bit. Honestly, this new body felt like an upgrade on the old one. The loss of that one part of my body didn't even phase me. 

"She called me pretty and wanted me to take care of her."

"Raging lesbian even when half transformed and delirious? That is just like her." Clay didn't ask any more questions and I didn't want them thinking I was weird. I was glad the conversation was turning to back to Joanne.

"I've never seen her like this." I hoped Clay didn't notice how much I was blushing.

"Neither have I. Want me to look after her? I imagine being called pretty must feel pretty bad."  Did it feel bad? I didn't think it did. If anything I wanted her to call me that more.

"Clay!" Joanne shouted from her bed.

We walked over together. I wanted to make sure she was alright. I also wanted to know why she recognised Clay, but not me.

"You're here too!" she continued. Her voice sounded rougher and distinctly more masculine. 

I looked over to Alex and Blain. They were still unconscious as the transformations continued. They looked different, but not incredibly so like they'd gone through a girl filter, without the long hair. I'd have to ask them how they felt about being turned into girls when they woke up.

"Yes, I am."

"You sound funny. Why do I sound funny?" She sounded relaxed. 

"I'll explain when you come to your senses," Clay said. 

"Okay. That voice suits you," she said cheerfully. "Can I ask you something Clay?" she whispered. Badly.

"Okay."

"Who is the angel? Can I have her until I feel better?" My brain was frazzled. Positively and absolutely frazzled. She wanted me?

"Are you okay with that? Angel?" Clay asked me. Were they being snarky about this? Did they know how flustered I was?

I nodded. I wanted her to call me pretty more. This would probably be the last time that ever happened, and I wanted to enjoy it.

"Yay," she chuckled. "Angel."

"I'm not an angel, Joanne," I said.  Gosh, it felt good when she called me that, but it wasn't true. I was just Justin. 

"Angel, my body feels funny."

"It's changing. That's why." I didn't want to alarm her but I also didn't want to hide anything. 

"How is it changing?" she asked cautiously. It seemed like she was starting to come to her senses. 

"You're turning into a guy," I said quietly.

"Astrus!" she screamed. So much for not alarming her. 

The hologram appeared in the med bay. 

"Yes, Joanne?"

"What does she mean I'm turning into a guy?"

"Your body is changing itself to more closely align with that of a typical male."

"Is that why I feel so uncomfortable?" She sounded distraught. Why were me and Clay not like that?

"I'm afraid so. It should only be temporary, however. You and Justin should return to your original forms eventually. For Clay, this is what they wanted, so they will likely keep their new form."

"Wait, where is Goldie? Only Alex and Blain are on the tables, and who's she?" The look on her face after looking at me, it was one of recognition. Then shock. Then guilt. "Oh my gosh. Goldie, I am so sorry. That must have been so uncomfortable for you." Even while looking like a guy, she didn't give off the same scary vibes that most other guys did. 

"It's okay. You weren't feeling well." Why was she apologising when she was complimenting me?

"I'm still not. And after that, I wouldn't be surprised if you were under the weather too. God, is this what dysphoria is like?"

"From what you're saying, it sounds like it," Clay interjected. 

"No wonder you weren't up for today, Clay. And Goldie, I'm so sorry for calling you pretty." She seemed like she was about to burst from guilt.

"No, it's okay! I think I might be immune to dysphoria. And I kind of liked being called pretty." Now I sounded desperate. But I had to be right. I mean, I didn't feel bad at all. In fact, I felt great. Clay raised an eyebrow in my direction, again. What did they know that I didn't?

--------

Everything felt so wrong. My clothes were too small. I was way too tall, and I felt something close to anger. I wanted to break something. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry and most of all I wanted to cuddle the cute person that was sitting next to my bed. I wanted to squeeze him. I knew he was a guy. Like internally I knew. But the way he talked, the way he sat, it was all so cute. Was this the result of this body or something? Was I going to think every girl-looking person was cute or hot until this wore off? I didn't want to scare him, but I couldn't stop looking.

"I'm sorry for pulling your pants down."

"Um, it's okay. Really. It helped confirm that I was done changing, I think." His voice was so cute. I refused to believe the other two guys would turn out like this. Otherwise, I was in for an even rougher time.

"Do you think if I looked in my pants, there would be one of those?" I asked. He was blushing. Was he doing this on purpose?

"I don't recommend it. You already seem pretty uncomfortable."

"I don't get why you are so okay with this. How long have you been up?" 

"Clay and I didn't end up passing out." What made them different? What about them made them the exception?"

"Stella's waking up!" Kepler shouted. I had to get up again. I had to make sure Stella was okay.

Walking over, I could see she was faring worse than I was. Her skin was ashy. Like her skin had lost too much moisture. 

"Clay," Stella growled. Her usual soft-spoken voice now sounded parched. 

"Kepler, get her some water," I commanded. 

"Clay, who's he? What's going on? What's wrong with my voice?" It took me a second to register that the 'hr' she was talking about was me. I felt gross. 

"That's Joanne," they explained.

"Joanne? Oh my gosh, what happened to you?"

"Same thing that happened to you. We now look like guys. Apparently, it will wear off. The guys are still out of it. I'm not sure how they'll react to looking like girls." 

"There's only two of them over there. Where's Goldie?"

"I'm here," he squeaked from behind me and Clay. Was he shorter than she used to be, or had I gotten taller? If I'd gotten taller, I kinda hoped I stayed taller.

"Oh my gosh, Goldie, look at you." Stella still looked mostly like herself. But her voice was completely different. I could tell she was trying to do her best sisterly love thing, but it was obvious she was struggling.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked. 

"You are so cute," she replied.

"Really?" He blushed. He didn't seem to be reacting as badly as I did. Was he hiding it? That did sound like something he would do, but it wouldn't fit with the gloomier sides of his personality, it seemed like he was enjoying it.

"Yeah, but you really need to brush your hair? Kepler, can you get this girl a hairbrush?"

"Stella! That's still Justin, don't treat him like a girl." He'd likely had his fill of being treated by a girl, even if he wasn't showing it, right? 

"Don't call me Justin. Call me Goldie." His voice was stern, yet unthreatening. I would have thought having your body changed against your will would make you less assertive. How come that new attitude was making me think he's cute? The testosterone was getting to my head, I was sure of it.

"But--" I tried to start.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Joanne. Is it okay if I enjoy it?"

"Yes, but--"

"No buts." I'd never seen him be so assertive. "Plus I think Stella could use a distraction before she confronts what's happened. Go check on the boys." 

I obliged. Clay helped me walk over to where the boys were. It seemed like they had started to stir. They didn't look as pretty as Goldie did, in fact, it looked like they had barely changed aside from a swollen chest, smoother skin and their faces were a little bit chubbier.  Gold's entire energy had changed. What made him different?

"Blain, Alex, are you okay?" Clay asked.

Blain bolted upright. If I wasn't already exhausted, I would have jumped.

"Clay, I just had the weirdest dream. I turned into a girl. Wait. What." A look of realisation dawned on his face. "What's wrong with my voice? Who are you?" He pointed at me. How had my appearance changed? I hoped that the changes done to my body were more like Alex and Blains instead of Golds.

"It's me, Joanne."

"But Joanne's a girl? Wait." He looked down at his chest. "Why am I a girl, Joanne?"

"It's the soda we drank. It changed our bodies."

"Is everyone okay?" 

"Why am I surrounded by cute people?" Alex asked.

"Everyones awake now, if that counts?" I replied to Blain's question. "Here's the rundown, Alex: all of our bodies have been changed. I'm Joanne, next to you is Blain, and Clay hasn't changed too much. Both of you look like girls."

"I can't do this," Alex said, before lying down again. His face had gone from confusion to horror. 

"It's going to be okay. Our bodies will go back to normal."

"It feels so wrong, Jo," he muttered. 

"I know it does." I was trying to keep calm but this entire situation was setting off so many alarms in my head. I wanted to hide. How were we going to fight when we were stuck like this?

"How long until it wears off?" asked Blain still seemed to be worried about everyone else. He rubbed circles into Alex's back. 

"Not sure." 

"I can't do this. I can't have boobs. Or any of this. What will my boyfriend think?" Alex muttered under his breath. 

"It's okay, babe. I'm here," Blain whispered to the whimpering mess next to him. When did that happen? "Who's with Stella?"

"That's Gold."

"Why is he so calm about this?" I still wasn't sure. 

"Apparently he's immune to dysphoria," Clay replied cynically. Did they know something we didn't?

"He looks so relaxed?" Blain looked on in awe as he continued to try and keep Alex calm.

"Goldie, you should talk to the guys, maybe tell them how you are coping?" Clay shouted to him.

"Okay!"