After a long and meaningful silence, Karyn had dressed again. She and Jon talked for hours, finally overcoming the awkwardness that seemed to have crept between them. By the time the doorbell rang, they were laughing like old friends again.
Zoe bounded down the stairs at the sound of the doorbell, bellowing as she took the steps two at a time.
"That'll be Heath! We're gonna study! I swear to God, Jon, if Karyn's naked I'm going to scream my damned head off!"
Jon turned white as a ghost.
"How did she know?"
Karyn laughed out loud.
"Still not quite back to normal, eh? She always says that, Jon. You know that."
"Oh, yeah. Right."
Jon blushed at his gaffe.
"Come in," Zoe said, leading Heath, a pale geek in, and immediately heading back upstairs.
If Karyn were still wearing fur, Jon would have sworn she bristled at the sight of Zoe's friend, but soon they were out of sight.
"What's the matter?"
"He doesn't smell right."
"Huh? How the hell does someone not smell right, especially considering all the weird stuff that's in the world now?"
"It's just...hard to explain. For some reason he rubs me the wrong way."
"Rubs you the wrong way? I'll rub you the wrong way," Jon said, laughing maniacally and pouncing on Karyn, his skritching fingers mussing her hair playfully.
Confrontation had been avoided, for the moment...
