Karyn rang the doorbell. A few moments later, an attractive woman in her late thirties appeared. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Karyn Black."
"Oh, yes. I met your mother earlier. You've come to see Taylor." She moved to admit her.
Karyn walked into the house and stopped. She'd half expected to see the Madison living room. Instead, she saw a freshly painted white room, a couch, and a bunch of boxes in various states of unpacking.
"Sorry about the mess," Mrs. Adams said. "And watch your step. Taylor's room is the last door on the right." That had been Zoe's room.
She headed up the stairs, peeking into Jon's room. There was a desk in there...it had been turned into a home office. Mikey's room was filled with as yet unpacked boxes.
She entered Taylor's bedroom. The girl had her back to her, typing away on her laptop, earbuds in. The room was filled with boxes that barely looked unpacked.
"Hi?" Karyn said. No answer. She tried again. Then tapped the girl on the shoulder.
Taylor jumped and spun around. Karyn was struck by the fact that close up, the girl reminded her a lot of Zoe...without the Goth. "Who are you?"
"Karyn, from across the street. Your mom asked my mom to have me come over and meet you."
"Didn't you see the sign?" Taylor asked.
"What sign?" She asked, looking around and seeing none.
Taylor looked. "Oops," she said. It was sitting on the bed, waiting to be put up. She tacked it to the door. It read, Beware the Teen. "Sorry."
Karyn took the girl in. She wondered if Taylor reminded her of Zoe because she missed the Madisons. Taylor was certainly not like any of them. She actually was more like Karyn...at least Karyn before that stupid hair and breast wish she'd made. An average girl...not too girly...not a giggler.
Karyn's life had become more difficult post-breasts. People treated her differently. She attracted more interest. It was annoying...mostly because it was the wrong kind of interest in her opinion.
She had a sudden crazy thought. What if this was Jon? She looked like Zoe...maybe a family resemblance. But how would she have gotten so different? Could the transformation people do all that? she wasn't sure. No one really talked out it, perhaps out of fear...not even those at school who had been changed.
She banished the thought. She had no proof, and it sounded crazy. "So after you enroll in school, I can show you around."
She nodded. "Thanks. You want to hang out now or something?"
Karyn found the girl rather disinterested in...well, everything. But if her Mom wanted her to find Taylor a friend, she certainly knew some freshmen who acted the same way.
