At 7:12 p.m., Christopher was sitting at a table in the well known restaurant called 'Mietta's', looking forlornly at his watch. He'd been repeating this action every minute for the past twenty minutes.

Despite being well dressed in a suit, and looking handsome, Christopher was anxious and pallid, seemingly convinced that Jaselle was not going to show up for dinner; she had just being playing a game with him.

He glanced about the restaurant's rich interior, hoping to spy her striking form making her way to his table. But all he saw were the other patrons, all of' whom looked born to the lifestyle that the famous and refined restaurant catered to.

The clientele were attractive, and well dressed, sitting at their tables, enjoying the finest of wines and the flamboyant cuisine served to their tables. They were in groups, talking and laughing and looking elegant. They were apart of a world that could never be his and Christopher wasn't sure that he was sorry. He didn't think he could live as life of opulence knowing that others out in the world were going without the basics of life while he was feasting on pate and champagne. It was too hypocritical for words. But he had chosen this venue for his date with Jaselle because he’d hoped to make a favorable impression on her.

There she was, at last! He felt his eyes widen, and his lips curl into a small smile, and he rose from his chair as he watched her walk towards him.

Jaselle, a cat-like goddess, clad in a figure hugging black gown that shimmered with dark beading, stalked towards him. Her hair was pulled back, and her grey eyes glowed. Her crimson coloured lips were turned up in a soft, almost rebuking smile.

She took her seat and apologised for being late, but didn't provide a reason. Christopher tried to appear unaffected by her late arrival, as if he were always cool and calm, but he wasn't totally sure that he had convinced her. With Jaselle, it was hard to be certain of anything.

They performed the necessary ritual of exchanging pleasantries, as a bottle of champagne was brought to their table and corked. While they drank, Christopher inquired after the woman who had answered the telephone when he had rung Jaselle's number that morning.

"Oh, that was just a friend of mine. She dropped by to look in on me, as I wasn't feeling very well this morning," Jaselle told him.

Christopher's face showed concern. He shot off a barrage of questions; what was wrong with her? Had she been to see a doctor? Was she on medication? Why hadn't she called him and told him? Did she feel better…?

Jaselle cut him off. "I'm fine now, believe me," she insisted, more than a little surprised at his gush of concern. "It was self-induced anyway," she explained. "I over indulged the night before," she said.

Christopher smiled wanly at her and shook his head, letting his shoulders relax, obviously relieved to hear that it hadn't been anything terribly serious. But his reaction proved something to Jaselle. It made her realise how fixated he was with her. No, it was more than just a fixation; Christopher was in love with Jaselle. This was not a development that had been considered, so there was no plan to counter it or its complications.

Despite this burdensome matter settling on Jaselle's mind, a pleasant evening was still had. Jaselle came to see Christopher in a new light. He was witty and intelligent and had so much to offer, for the right woman. But Jaselle wasn't the right ‘woman’, and with that thought came a taste of something new to Jaselle, burning the tip of his tongue - guilt.

Christopher was more than just an experiment; he was a person with feelings who had never done anything to hurt Jackson. Jaselle doubted that Christopher could deliberately hurt anyone.

Jackson was caught in a snare of his own creation, so he had to figure some way of getting himself - and Christopher - out of it, without either of them suffering unduly.

Christopher, on the other hand, found Jaselle more open, pleasant and relaxed than usual. There was less of the customary cutting remarks and biting cynicism, and much more warmth and good humor. He honestly felt that his persistence was beginning to manifest its rewards. Jaselle was growing to care for him, he was sure of it.

While he could never hope that she would love him as much as he loved her, he felt that their was a chance of some kind of a permanent commitment being forged between them, perhaps one day leading to marriage. His heady heart promised him it would be bliss.

After dinner, they went for a drive in Christopher's car, a late model Holden Commodore, around the city and along the Esplanade in St. Kilda, where Jackson and Claire had walked earlier that day.

Jaselle reflected on the time Jackson and Claire had spent in St. Kilda; walking along hand-in-hand, the smiles, the touches, the little kisses. It saddened Jaselle, for Christopher deserved to have those kind of moments with a special girl; but right now, Christopher was dreaming of loving a lie, and a stony one at that.

"Where would you like to go?" He asked Jaselle, breaking her from her reverie.

"I need to go home," Jaselle replied, deciding that it was time to call an end to the evening, and this experiment. "I'm just so tired, Christopher " Her voice trailed off.

He said he understood, asking which suburb she was living in. Jaselle said that he need not bother driving her all the way to her aunts' home; she could simply get a cab from one of the many taxi ranks. But Christopher was insistent and wouldn't listen to any of Jaselle's protests about how far it would take him out of his way, to his own suburb.

"I'm driving you and that's final. So, where to?" he asked her brightly.

"Er - Toorak," Jaselle responded. "That's where I'm staying… with my aunt."

Christopher nodded, and changed lanes and directed his car towards the exclusive suburb of Toorak.

They drove in quietness. Jackson was feeling somewhat despondent. He certainly didn't want to say or do anything that would encourage Christopher to feel more for Jaselle than he already did.

He didn't want to hurt Christopher, so he had to find away of breaking off their relationship. Jackson decided that doing it gradually would be the best way. To stop seeing him completely, all in one hit, would no doubt only spur Christopher on, as he appeared to thrive on challenges. But if Jaselle pulled away gently, one day at a time, as it were, maybe Christopher would gradually lose interest, or at least be spared any pain from a dramatic break-up.

When in Toorak, Jackson directed Christopher randomly down a number of streets. This was done for two purposes; the first was that Jackson was looking for the 'right' house; one that looked like the kind of house that a spinsterish, maiden old aunt might live in. Jaselle was also looking for a house that had its lights out, signaling that those at home were in bed asleep, or alternately, that they were out for the evening. If this were the case, and the house was in darkness, then Jaselle would have the perfect excuse for not taking Christopher in for a 'nightcap', for fear of waking up her 'dottery old aunt'.

The second reason for guiding him down so many streets was in the hope to bewilder him, just in case Christopher thought that he might find his way back to the house on another occasion, hoping to see Jaselle. Perplexing him with her scatty directions would ensure that he would not uncover her lie, which might lead him back to Jaselle's other secrets.

The perfect house came in to sight. It was grand, old world and cloaked in darkness, but a porch light was on. Jaselle indicated that it was the house that she was staying in, while visiting her aunt. Christopher pulled the car up by the curbside and then let Jaselle out from the front passenger's side.

“Let's say good night here,” Jaselle suggested, as they stood by the car. She told him that she would have taken him into the house, but didn't wish to wake her aunt, who was somewhat of a prude anyway, and would not be happy to see her niece bringing young man into her home.

“I understand,” Christopher said, with a bemused smile. Firmly, he took Jaselle into his arms, drawing her close against his body. Jackson felt his stomach muscles tighten. He told himself to relax, reminding himself that it was Jaselle now; it was Jaselle that Christopher was kissing.

Christopher gazed intently into Jaselle's eyes and then gently kissed them both, with the tender touch of his handsome mouth, his warm, pleasant breath sending tingles across Jackson's face. Then he kissed Jaselle on the lips, and she responded eagerly, holding him to her slight body, and drawing in the warmth and wetness of Christopher's tongue. He let out of a sigh and his hands dropped to gently cup the firm flesh of her buttocks.

Their kiss intensified and deepened; Jaselle felt Christopher's excitement grow. It was time to put a stop to it, and Jaselle pulled away, afraid of what was happening, of where it might lead.

"Good night, Christopher," Jaselle said, turning away from him.

"Let's spend the day together - tomorrow," he called out to Jaselle.

"Doing what?" Jaselle asked, turning back to regard him.

"We'll think of something. How about the zoo?" he inquired. "Why don't we meet at the front gates…? Say at eleven o'clock?"

Jaselle laughed at his suggestion. Jackson then caught a hold of himself. It might be the perfect opportunity to begin the process of stepping out of Christopher's life. On that thought, Jaselle agreed to the arrangements.

"Now, good night, Christopher," Jaselle said again, but with more determination.

He smiled at her, nodded and got into his car. "Jaselle, I love you," he called out to her, and blew her a kiss as he pulled out from the curb.

But Jaselle didn't reply. He just watched as Christopher's car disappeared down the street. Once he was gone from view, Jaselle began walking down the street, looking for a telephone box.

On the way, all he could think about were Christopher's final words. ”I love you, Jaselle.”

The experiment had worked, Jackson told himself. But those three, simple words Christopher had uttered kept ringing in his ears and twisting his heart. Especially as he felt that there was something almost tragic in the way Christopher had sounded when he'd said them.

In time, Jackson came upon a telephone box. From it he called a taxi, which arrived sometime later and took him back to ’Jaselle's’.

He smiled at Jaselle and Jackson in turn, and then said: "I love you." He swallowed the key.

Jackson and Jaselle both screamed.

He found himself alternating daily, between Jackson and Jaselle, and rushing to keep appointments and dates with Claire and Christopher, juggling his life in an attempt to keep his two lives entirely separate.

Christopher and Jaselle filled in their day at the Royal Melbourne Zoo. They had lunch there, and walked around and looked at the animals. After that, they went to the museum, and then onto an art gallery in South Yarra. They finished the afternoon with a movie, after which Jaselle and Christopher parted company.

Jaselle returned to the apartment and there 'changed' back to Jackson. He took a taxi to the suburb of Carlton, where he met Claire out front of the restaurant known as Toto's, one of their favourite places.

They had dinner and during the course of the evening, decided to go into the city and see a movie. Claire chose which film and it turned out to be the same film that Jaselle had seen with Christopher earlier that afternoon.

The next day was even worse; Jackson found himself committed to meeting Christopher for lunch at midday in the city, and then Claire and Jackson had made arrangements to have lunch at 1:30pm.

Jackson wasn't sure that he would be able to balance the two engagements, but he endeavored to handle the situation calmly and coolly. He arranged to meet them both at the same place for lunch; a small cafe near Spencer Street Train Station.

Once his lunch with Christopher was concluded, and Christopher had given Jaselle a farewell kiss, and then departed, at around one o'clock, Jaselle hurried over to the train station.

From one of the lockers, in the baggage claim area, Jaselle retrieved a bag he’d placed there prior to lunch with Christopher. Jaselle took it downstairs and dived into the female toilets and locked himself in one of the cubicles.

He changed from the blouse, padded bra, skirt, stockings and shoes into a shirt, jeans and sneakers. He dispensed with the wig and the clip-on earrings, too. In front of a mirror, over the basin, he quickly scrubbed off the layers of make-up, ignoring the combination of perplexed and disapproving looks he was getting from women entering the facilities

When he was done, Jackson glanced at his watch, and saw that it was 1:27 p.m. He snatched up his bag that had been on the floor at his feet, with his Jaselle-clothes in it, and hurried out of the toilets. He ran back up stairs, to the baggage claim room, and put some money into the token dispenser. With the token in hand, he went to one of the lockers and stuffed the bag in and locked it.

He ran back to the cafe, just moments before Claire arrived there. He greeted her with a smile and a kiss.

Claire made two observations about Jackson, during their lunch: his hair was becoming extremely long, and he wasn't eating much. Jackson mumbled something about getting a haircut when he " ...had the time...”, and as for his apparent lack of appetite, he claimed he'd had a big breakfast.

Jackson’s life was so complicated now that he truly didn't have the time to get a simple haircut, even if he'd really wanted one. He was finding it almost impossible to cope with two lives, as well as keeping them separate without arousing Claire or Christopher's suspicions. Plus he had his job at Jaselle's, too.

He was stuck to a grueling schedule that was leaving him exhausted at the end of each day, only to have to get out of bed the next day and go through it once more.

A couple of weeks later, Jackson was on the telephone to Christopher, while reclining on the sofa in the apartment. Raquel was at the piano, looking over some sheet music of a new song for his act. Jackson was addressing Christopher in Jaselle's voice.

“... No, Christopher, I can't. Not tonight," he said, sounding tired and looking drained. "Honestly, I am very tired… I'd just like a lazy evening at home with my aunt, you understand? I'll call you tomorrow and we'll talk then..." His voice trailed off, searching for some affirmation.

There was a reluctant pause at Christopher's end of the line, but he agreed to Jaselle's terms. He told Jaselle that he loved her.

"Good-bye, Christopher. Talk to you later," he said, ignoring the comment, and hung up. Jackson groaned, collapsing into the sofa, looking and sounding battered.

Raquel looked up from behind the piano, eyeing his friend speculatively. "How long do you think you can keep this up for? You're a wreck," Raquel said straightforwardly "You really should put a stop to this, before it goes any further."

“A wreck? Gee… thanks, Raquel. You sure know how to hurt a girl,” Jackson lamented, but with a slight grin.

“Hey bunny, I’m only telling you this because I care. You’re running yourself into the ground. You have to do something, and soon,” Raquel stated bluntly.

"I know," he agreed.

"Besides, it's really not fair on Claire - the way that you're letting her believe that there can be a future for you two, when you tell me that you know there never can be. You're lying to her. But then again," Raquel sighed, "maybe you really don't know what you want," he said. "And it's not fair to Christopher, either. You're being extremely selfish, Jackson."

Jackson listened without comment. He knew that Raquel was right. It hurt to hear him say it, but it was the truth. But just the same, Jackson felt that he was entitled to a little happiness, too, and Claire was the source of that goodness in his life.

As for Christopher; yes, there were some hurtful side effects that Jackson hadn't anticipated, but Christopher was a grown man. He could handle a little hurt when the time came for Jaselle to terminate the experiment. Jaselle would do it as gently as possible.

"It’s not for much longer. I'm just waiting for the word from you and your contacts about a clinic...”

Raquel dropped eye contact with the youth From this Jackson deduced that he had at last gathered some information. He demanded to hear it.

"My friend, Lorna, rang last night while you were out. She told me that she has found a clinic in Switzerland," Raquel began, with obvious signs of discomfort. "She has made subtle inquiries, and it seems that it will be suitable for your needs. They will admit you as soon as you're ready," he explained to him.

Jackson nodded, digesting the news with a blank, accepting expression. At last he knew that he was really going to do it!

Raquel went onto to inform him that he had go ahead and made an appointment for Jackson to see a doctor, who was a personal friend of Raquel's, about the first series of hormone injections.

"It could take you anywhere between four to six weeks before you notice any effects. But gradually, your breasts will develop, while your facial hair won't grow back as fast, and quite possibly, won't grow back at all while you remain on the injections. You’ll need regular hormone injections to maintain this, and the development of your breasts," Raquel informed him.

Raquel also told him that the doctor could be trusted to keep the entire arrangement to himself. No records were going to be kept of Jackson's treatments.

"When will these injections begin?" Jackson asked him.

"You'll receive the first one this afternoon," Raquel replied.

Jackson was a little surprised. The truths of his actions were suddenly on him, confronting him. He realised that Jaselle would now truly begin to take control of his life. In time, he would be gone, leaving the way open for Jaselle to extract their revenge!

The doctor had been surprising old. A wiry man with thick, grey hair, he worked from a private practice in one of the outer suburbs. He didn't speak to Jackson much, aside from a couple of basic necessities, he seemed anxious for the whole time that they were there. He seemed visibly relieved to watch they leave.

Later in the night, Jackson was at work at Jaselle's behind the bar. It was a particularly busy evening. He was looking forward to its end so he could climb upstairs and go to bed.

Sometime after eleven o'clock, Claire turned up with Pauly and their usual group of friends. They went out onto the dance floor and danced to the latest releases being played by the DJ.

Jackson saw Claire a couple of time, and they exchanged smiles. In the early hours of morning, he found himself staring across the bar at a pair of familiar and comfortable brown eyes.

Claire smiled at him. "Just wanted to say good night," she said, and stretched across the bar and kissed him briefly. "I'll see you later," she remarked in an odd voice that made him give her a quizzical look.

But she was gone and there were more customers to be served. He didn't find the time to speculate further.

When the night was over, he went up to the apartment, staggering over his tired feet, his body aching with exhaustion.

The apartment itself was in darkness. No doubt Raquel had gone to bed hours ago and was asleep.

“Jackson?” Came the sweet voice.

He saw that it was Claire, standing in silhouette by the window, watching the lightning of the thunderstorm as it raged outside in the night. Her face was partially lit, partially obscured by shadow in the flashes of the storm driven lightning. He stepped closer to her, focusing on her dark eyes, periodically speckled by glimmers of distant light. It took him a moment or two to realise that she was completely naked. Her soft well shaped figure glowing in the intermittent half-light of the storm.

"I've been waiting, " she told him.

He took another couple of anxious steps towards her toward her, unable to find words adequate enough to express his feelings; his sense of amazement, of wonder of adoration and desire. When he was close enough to touch her, he let the gentle caress of his hand against her cheek reveal to her how he felt.

He looked at her, his eyes tentatively caressing her body, examining her in boyish awe. He cupped her breasts in his hands, bowed his head to kiss them each in turn. She clasped his face against her chest, thrilling on the sensation of his lips and tongue tasting her.

Their lips met in a deliciously slow and long kiss, which grew more urgent and heated. His hands ran over her shoulders, down her back to cup her buttocks. He kneaded them between his fingers, drawing her closer to him, so that she could feel his hard excitement. His hands moved across the trembling plateau of her midriff, dropping lower to her gentle womanliness, which he found was warm and soft. She uttered his name on the end of a moan.

Claire fumbled with his shirt, pulling it off him and tossing it carelessly to the floor. Now it was her turn to touch his flesh, to taste his skin with her kisses. She reached for the button and zip of his pants and undid them, letting them fall to the floor. She slipped her hand inside his jocks, massaging his hardness. Jackson threw back his head and gasped hard and deep, his body trembling.

When they were naked, they laid down on the floor, exploring curiously the secrets of each other's bodies, delighting in their discoveries. They made love, their bodies blending in the tempestuous night, their love making in time with the rhythm of the storm.