Athena and Karyn sat on one side of the table, and Zelda and Jen sat on the other. On the two ends were Mikey and Richy, who now had shoulder-length hair. As time went by Richy was definitely looking more and more like a woman.
As Richy put out the plates and eating utensils, Mikey noticed that he had long fingernails, just like his mom. "Who wants chicken?" Richy asked, bubbling. It was still so weird hearing Richy talk so ... femininely.
They all got their food and everything seemed to be going fairly well for a while. Though, Mikey noticed that Athena and Karyn kept looking at Jen, suspiciously, for some reason. Occasionally Jen noticed and flashed an irritated glance at them. That went on for a little bit, but then about fifteen minutes in, Jen snapped.
"Why the fuck are you two looking at me?" Jen blurted.
"Jen. Watch your language at the table," Richy said.
"It's because I'm Goth. Isn't it?" Jen shook her head. She had lost all her patience. "You're just like everyone at school. They judge me and my friends before they even know us."
"Jen, please," Richy said.
"No!" Jen yelled, standing up. "I'm sick of everyone thinking that I'm a freak just because I look a little different than everyone else." She looked from Karyn, to Athena, and then to Richy, then scoffed and left the table, stomping upstairs to her room.
Zelda sat there, not sure of what to do. Since she was wearing the anti-magic pendant, she knew that Athena was supposed to be her friend and not Jen. But, that was a different Athena. This one didn't seem to want anything to do with her. So, she stood up and left the table, running after her "new" friend.
"Sorry about that, Karyn," Richy said, after Jen and Zelda left.
"It's okay," Karyn said. "But, she is kind of freaky."
"Yeah, she is," Richy said. "What I wouldn't give for a normal daughter."
"Hey, what about me?" Athena asked. "I'm normal."
"Oh, yeah," Richy said, smiling.
They all laughed about it. But one person wasn't laughing. And that was Mikey. But not because he didn't think it was funny, but because he was busy observing. And right before Mikey asked to be excused, Athena noticed it. Why was her little brother studying them?
"Who wants more chicken?" Richy asked, cheerfully.
