romance short stories

The change of heart

Scott Dashwood was a handsome boy of 13, growing up in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland. Just a month shy of this 14th birthday, Scott had been working all summer at the local golf course to earn spending money for his freshman year in high school. He anticipated high school with dread, fearful of being one of the new boys on campus, exposed to the normal teasing and taunting present at Woodrow Wilson High.

He had not expected the call when his parent's phone rang around noon on Friday. It was from Amber. Amber Hennessy was a girl from down the street, just a month older than Scott. With light brown hair, the girl seemed to be aptly named.

The Hennessy's had been out of town for about 8 months due to Amber's father having a short term work assignment in Houston, Texas. Amber had to transfer to a school in Houston in order to finish 8th grade. She was now finally back in town just days before the start of their freshman year at Woodrow Wilson and she hoped that Scott could come by for an afternoon at the family's above ground pool. They hadn't seen each other in what seemed forever. Scott quickly agreed to come by.

The truth of the matter is that Scott and Amber had been best friends since 2nd grade. They had played tag together, explored the woods behind their house together and just hung out like young kids do. Amber was just "one of the guys" as far as Scott was concerned.

The trip down the hill to the Hennessy house was a short 5-10 minute walk. Scott was wearing his oversized swim trunks and carried a Miller Lite bath towel. Scott really wanted to wear his Speedo that he wore when teaching youth swimming at the Y in the winter months but he knew that his mother would never approve of that. "It's damn near indecent Scott. Everyone can see what you own." He was not in the mood for a fight with his mother so the oversized trucks would do just fine.

It wasn't long before he was at the red brick Victorian located at 254 Old Hickory Lane. Amber greeted him as he walked up the driveway.

"Hi Scott!!"

"Hi Amber!"

The young girl was wearing an oversized Carnegie Mellon University sweatshirt. Pink straps and what looked like a pink bikini bottom appeared to be underneath the sweatshirt.

"Let's go back to the pool."

As she led Scott into the backyard, she pulled the sweatshirt up and over her head. Scott's intuition was correct. Underneath the sweatshirt was a pink bikini. Amber's first bikini.

In the past, Amber had always worn what Scott sarcastically called "water dresses". Modest one piece suits with a dress-like bottom, they were God awful looking things. So where did this come from?

"Like my new suit? I got it in Texas. Mom is finally allowing me to purchase some of my own clothes."

"Uh huh." Scott was at a loss for words. After finally getting over the swimsuit change, he was now having to deal with other changes visible with the girl. Amber was no longer wearing a "page boy" hair style. Her hair was now long, silk-like and hanging over her shoulders. And the gawky glasses that used to frame her face were also gone, replaced with contacts that showed off her rich, deep brown eyes.

But those changes were not the most dramatic ones. Also gone was Amber's previous "straight rail" figure, replaced by gentle curves and hips. A fuller butt and young breasts rounded out the striking appearance change.

Scott mentally shook himself out of his daze and smiled at the girl. "You look great."

"Like the tan? I worked on it most of the summer." Amber causally pointed at her flat, bronzed stomach as she talked.