After leaving the nurse's office, the two friends navigated the halls to Jon's fourth period classroom. There, they planned to wait out the remaining twenty minutes of third period and get in early. Along the way, Karyn kept glancing down at the sphinx beside her, but she kept silent.
Jon, however, detected her scrutiny. When they had reached their destination and settled down a good distance from any classroom doors, she asked, "What is it?"
"Huh?"
"You keep staring at me, and it's making me feel really awkward. I mean, I know I'm pretty freaky-looking right now, but-"
Karyn held up her hands. "No, no, that's not it. I'm just fascinated by your body in the most non-creepy way possible, of course. Sorry if it's bothering you. I'm just so curious. It's in my half-kitty nature, you know."
Jon rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, need I remind you of a certain tired old cliché?"
Karyn gave a snort of laughter, but stopped when her ears picked up its echo bouncing off the walls. "Alright, Jon, I'll try not to stare. But just to ease my nerves, can I, uh, inspect you?"
Jon narrowed her eyes at the cat-girl, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. "'Inspect' as in poke and prod me like a goat in a petting zoo?" She gave her best martyr's sigh. "Fine. Poke and prod away, but keep it above the tail, please."
At this, Karyn could hold in her giggles no longer, and the sound burst from her for a good five seconds before being smothered by her own knuckle. Jon indulged in a chuckle of her own, a bit of her embarrassment lifting from her shoulders. It felt good being able to share a good laugh with her best friend.
When their mirth had died down, Karyn, still blinking tears from her eyes, began her exploration of Jon's new form. She immediately gravitated to the wings, marveling over their impressive span. Slowly, she spread out the pinions and ran a gentle finger through each stiff feather. The base of each wing ended with a tuft of down before disappearing into the sphinx's thick fur.
Jon shivered as Karyn moved her hand down her back, feeling the texture of her coat. The sensation had a soothing quality to it, much like getting a backrub and, she told herself, not in any way resembling being petted like a housecat. When the probing hands moved down to the sphinx's tail, she jerked it away, "Hey, watch it!"
Karyn smiled. "C'mon, Jon. It's just another limb. Here." She reached back and brought forward her own tail. "Feel free to play with mine while I look at yours."
"There is just so much wrong with that statement," Jon replied, but she accepted the tail, holding it lightly to the floor with her paws. It felt so thin and fragile under its fur, yet undoubtedly alive. At the same time, she felt the tingle of sensation from her own tail. Her body sent automatic warnings to her brain, reminding her that a feline tail does not like to be touched.
Thankfully, Karyn kept its study brief, and after noting the characteristic tuft of dark fur at the end, released it. Jon did likewise. "Are you done, yet?"
"Almost," Karyn grinned. Without warning, she moved to Jon's front and swept her hair aside. Leaning in close, she took in the changes to Jon's face, the delicate nose, the rounded cheekbones, the altered jaw-line. Most striking were her eyes, who's original brown color had lightened to an intense amber. "Wow, you're actually kinda cute like this. I'd bet, with just a little makeup " She shrugged. "Well, you know."
"Some personal space, please?" Jon implored with all patience.
"Kinda late for that. Hold still," murmured Karyn. Peeling back Jon's soft lips, she whistled at the sharp teeth within. "Have you gotten a good look at these, Jon?"
"Wy teewth?" Jon asked around Karyn's thumbs. "Yeah, I havwe. I hofe I don't vwite wy tongue."
Her friend let go. "Just try not to smile too widely around small children."
"Gee, thanks for the tip," Jon replied wryly.
Suddenly, the bell rang. Soon, the halls began to fill with students. The two friends received some shocked looks, but otherwise, everyone kept their distance. For twenty hopeful seconds, Jon hoped she would be able to get through the day without too much attention.
Then, like a dark ship emerging from the fog, Zoe strode out of the crowd, Athena and Zelda in tow. The teenager looked happier than Jon had seen her in years, but somehow, it made him more nervous than elated.
"There she is! That's my new sister! My mom texted me and told me it was permanent. I mean, that sucks for Jon, but doesn't she look incredible?"
"Oh, boy," Jon muttered. "Here it comes."
