Jon had to make a decision - they could get a head start and go straight to the occult shop now, or he could change quickly into the outfit he was sure everyone else was about to come in and buy. Maybe he could fight off his growing sense of embarrassment. But if he didn't match, that would make it even easier for the real Sarah to pick him out of the crowd! He had to make a choice. Now!
Jon could feel a tingling in her chest. What was this feeling? Panic?
No. Adrenaline.
Jon closed her eyes and took a breath. The tingling moved from her chest to her spine and she pushed it down her back, down her legs, where it dissipated into the ground.
Jon opened her eyes and looked straight at Athena. This was New Jon. New Jon was daring. New Jon was confident. New Jon would not be intimidated.
She smirked. "I absolutely love your outfits. They're exactly what's in this season. Mine is going to be all the rage in a month, though, mark my words."
Both Athena's and Diane's eyebrows raised, almost imperceptibly, as Jon knew she had won the encounter. They were dutifully impressed, and Jon knew she was fully capable of making sure anyone who tried to question her was equally impressed. If she couldn't, then that person didn't matter.
Unless, a tiny voice whispered in Jon's head, that person is Sarah, herself.
But it was a small voice, and Jon ignored it. If the issue arose, she would deal with it.
And so Jon turned and strutted back out into the mall without looking back, simply expecting Athena to follow. And follow she did. Unheard by the two exiting teenagers, Diane let out a low whistle as she watched them leave. "There goes one bad-ass bitch."
