Zoe began to tip toe clumsily forward, trying to avoid the precarious balance of the chunky heel. A feat made all the more awkward by the tall platforms under the boot. "I'm never getting to school like this." She whined, then turned to Jon. "I want another bet."
Jon laughed. "Already? You're not exactly on a winning streak here."
"Just something to give me the ability to walk in these damn things."
"And if I win?" Jon asked.
"I don't care."She snipped at him.
"How about this. If I win, your heels shrink to a more manageable size, but you don't gain those inches back."
"Almost sounds like I want to lose this one." Zoe stated.
Jon shrugged. "I'm starting to feel bad. Besides, now you only get to pick the game for something that doesn't really matter." He chuckled.
"Alright." Zoe thought for a second then concluded. "Thumbwars. Best 3 out of 5."
"Again?" Jon laughed. "I thought you just said that Wasn't fair."
"And you agreed it has to be fair, so to even things out you're going to become a goth girl too."
"No way. I'm not agreeing to that."
"It would be fair."
"Not really." Jon protested, a frenzy jolted in his belly at the thought. "I'd be in a totally unfamiliar body."
"You mean like me, right now?" Zoe laughed "I just gained 50 pounds, and lost 6 inches, and those 6 inches changed the rest of my body too." She held up her diminished hand. "It's entirely fair." She insisted.
"I guess, " Jon relented. "but that still doesn't..."
Before Jon could finish, Zoe interrupted smugly. "Fair!" She smirked. "You just agreed that it's fair."
"What? No way. I didn't mean it. I wasn't done with that thought." He began to stammer, but even as he did, his voice began to drift upwards, higher until it was a bright lilting tone. There was no sharp cracking, like a voice change in puberty, rather it was one seamless shift, like pushing up the pitch distortion knob on a keyboard.
"Yaaaaah! No way!" Jon insisted as he looked down, watching with distress as his body both shrunk and deflated until he became a twig of a girl. No more hint of a defined musculature as he continued to evaporate in the morning sun. His shirt sleeves raced down each arm, until they hung well past his thumbs, then began to knit themselves into a thin black patterned sweater. The delicate fingers that peaked out past the sleeves were slender as bone, and just as pale. His jeans remained, but turned an ashen shade of dark grey, and hugged his slender legs tightly. His shoes were chunky sued flats with all manner of witchy designs stitched into them.
His fluffy black hair fell in his face as he was looking down, and he brushed it aside. He looked to Zoe, eyes wide and bewildered.
"Oh goddess." Zoe cooed. "You're adorable." She began to sputter with laughter. "Uhh! I love your eyeshadow. It's so mysterious." She teased. "You'll have to teach me how you blend so well!"
"Alright! Fine! Whatever!" Jon threw up his hands. "You got me." He crossed his arms tightly and turned away suddenly overcome with a pouty melancholy. He buried it in an indignant sneer, and insisted he was annoyed with his sister, and perhaps more annoyed with having one pulled over on him, but no more.
"Aww. Come on. Look at the bright side. You don't have a corset or heels." Zoe kicked one of her heels back cutely with a deceptive dexterity.
"Whatever." Jon bit back, hoping to hide the tremble he felt underneath his attitude. "Let's just get these stupid games over with."
"Ohhh. Now who's an angry goth?" Zoe taps her lip. "Though... judging by your tone, you're more like an angry kitten." Jon burned with shame at the taunt, and scowled at Zoe. "Oh fine." Zoe rolled her eyes, and extended her hand, same as before.
Jon reached out to take it, but at the last second Zoe pulled her hand up and back in one sassy motion, and used it to toss her bangs from her face. She looked down her nose at Jon, and sneered. "Oh, did you want to finish the bet?"
"Yes. So let's get it over with." Jon grumbled in a distressingly delicate tone. Her hand hung in the air between them, waiting for Zoe to bridge the gap.
"Hmm..." Zoe makes a show of tapping her chin. "You don't sound like you really want to. Maybe put a little more conviction in it?"
"Dammit Zoe! We're going to be late for school. Let's just do this stupid game already." Jon felt as though if he had tried to speak evenly, his voice would have cracked, and he'd have to start pleading.
Zoe just laughs. "Nah. Maybe later." She brushes past Jon, as if he were a lone reed in the wind. She walks dramatically, hips swinging, feet crossing over the center line of her strut, and chunky heels planted soundly with each step.
Jon blinks, then shakes his head. "What? You can't do that." He stammers, watching with annoyance as she reveals a complete mastery of her tall and heavy heels.
"Just did!" Zoe flicks her hand at him dismissively.
"Y-You have to finish the bet!" He cries after her.
"Apparently not!" She calls over her shoulder. "Besides," She stops and pirouettes precariously on one tall toe until she's facing Jon. A devilish smirk graces her lips. "You seem to be doing fine as a goth."
