Joanna, without missing a beat.

"Yes, they're real. All 36-D of them, and this is as close as you're ever going to get to them," she added with a beaming smile. The crowd laughed at that.

Heda liked this girl, and in more than the regular carnal way. She didn't take shit.

Their guide explained how things were going to work, then gave them a tour of the campus. Heda found herself more and more excited about being here with every step. The FCU campus was gorgeous, with lots of open spaces and parks to kick back in. It was also butted up against a major national park where the shifters could go to stretch their legs, wings, or even fins if they wanted. And southwest of them was desert and mountains while an hour east of them could put you in the plains. Something for every animal. No wonder it was perfect. Hell, the entire town of Crystal Pass existed just to support this mammoth campus.

"ALL right!" Joanna said at the end of the tour, "it's time to fill out your course registration cards and then we'll go to the registrar's office. From now on, you'll be able to do all this on- line, and there should be instructions in your little bags about how to do that. Then you'll be off to the last free meal most of you will get for a while!"

The crowd turned and headed back down the walkway in the direction Joanna had been pointing. Heda really wanted to make sure she got the classes she was after, so she started to make her way towards the front of the pack. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking back, she saw Joanna.

"Heda Adler, right?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

Joanna grinned.

"They gave me a picture and told me to keep a look out for you. Hang back for a sec, okay?"

Heda glanced at the crowd.

"But registration"

"Don't worry. You're guaranteed your classes." She waited until the crowd was a little further away.

"The Changeling Student Council just wanted me to introduce myself and let you know that we're having a special intro for all new shifters after the dinner at the student union. Most students are going home for a month after this week before classes start, so it's the best time for it."

"Should we tell the others?" She asked, wondering if she'd been singled out because of who her mother was.

“We will. We'll be getting a hold of everyone at some point before or during dinner. Since you're sticking around and since we're going to be roommates, I just wanted to give you the invite personally.”

"Roommates?" Heda said, grinning a little in spite of herself. There could be worse things that might have happened.

"Yep! Just found out this morning myself. I'll show you the dorm before the dinner, thought I have to warn you that I've already claimed my side and I will defend my territory with my life."

Heda couldn't be annoyed. The girl was too bubbly and far too sexy.

That brought something to mind that Heda decided she should bring up now.

"Hey listen, before you sign on to be my roomie, there's something I need to tell you. It's probably fortuitous that I meet you now before I start moving my stuff in ——"

"Cool!" Joanna said.

"I've never heard someone use 'fortuitous' in a sentence before. So, spit it out."

"I'm gay. And I'm not going to pretend that I'm not, and I thought you should know."

Joanna just stared for a second, making Heda think that she was going to freak. Then the girl was smiling again.

"Awesome! So we can go out dancing, you can help me work the guys up into a sweat and then you won't even be competing for them! You're going to be the best roommate ever!" She gave Heda an unexpected hug.

"And you're hot too, so that'll bring the boys running! I'm going to have so many to pick from if you include the ones who are devastated and vulnerable after you reject them,

"You're scary, you know that right?" But Heda was still smiling, caught up in her new friend's energy.

"So, you think I"m hot?" She asked, a twinkle in her eye. She knew that she was, and she had dressed to impress on her first day. She was tall for a girl, standing at a full six feet which had helped her find a passion in the sport of volleyball. She had a firm athlete's body, small perky breasts, and an ass to die for. She had on pink stretchy warm-up pants and a black tank-top that clung to her form, and she had caught many a stare as they wandered around campus.

“If I were gay, I'd have jumped you already."