"Okay, I called my mom. She said it's okay if we go to the mall. But I have to be back home by nine," Karyn said.
"That's okay," Athena said, as they continued to walk to the mall.
Karyn looked over at her friend and the crystal pendant that hung from her necklace. "Did your grandmother ever tell you what the pendant is supposed to do?"
"I told you, Karyn. It was all in her head. Magic doesn't really exist."
"Yeah, but wouldn't it be cool if it did?"
"I guess so. Listen, could we talk about something else. I ..." Suddenly, she felt off balance again. Fortunately, Karyn was there to catch her.
"Athena, are you okay?"
Athena looked up at Karyn, looking a little confused, like she did before in her garage. She looked across the street at a girl dressed in freakish colors. "She's wrong," Athena said.
"Huh?" Karyn followed her friend's gaze towards the cybergoth girl. Karyn wasn't sure, but she thought her name was Zelda. She was the only cybergoth at their school, so she tended to stand out. "What do you mean she's wrong?"
Suddenly, Athena regained her balance, as the Zelda girl walked down another street and out of view.
"Are you okay?" Karyn asked again.
"That girl. She's different."
"Yeah. I'd say so. Who would wear something like that?"
"No. That's not what I mean. She's different than before."
"Before? Before what?"
"I don't know," Athena said. "It's so confusing. I know she's different, but I don't know how."
"Maybe you should see a doctor."
"I have a feeling that a doctor wouldn't be able to help me." She paused. "Let's just go to the mall. If it happens again, we'll go to the hospital. Okay?"
"Okay, sure," Karyn said. But she really thought Athena should see a doctor now.
