Nadine Ferguson moved her eyes across the multitude of students emerging from the high school. It disgusted her to have to go to public school, especially this school, full of ditzes, sluts, goths, jocks, and many other "cliques" that she found distasteful. But there was at least one good thing (besides the adequate education) and that was her best friend Tina Shepard. They were like two beacons of light in a sea of sin. They both did their best to stand apart from the "crowd", but unlike the goths who made themselves look like freaks and vampires, Nadine and Tina tried to keep themselves "pure". Some might say that they were overly arrogant, making sure everyone knew that they were more important because they found religion, but Nadine and Tina didn't see it that way.
Nadine watched as more people walked by. Tiffany Sanders, who dressed and acted just like a slut; Mike "Moose" Matthews, a jock who was about as dumb as a box of rocks; Athena DeVries, a goth girl who Nadine especially despised, mainly because she was absolutely sure that she was practicing witchcraft; and then there was Zach Jones, a total goof-off, constantly cracking sexual or crude jokes. It was sickening that Nadine had to share the same school, let alone the same classes, with these people. But she really had no choice in the matter.
"Nadine," she heard a familiar voice. She turned and smiled when she spotted Tina walking towards her.
"Let's get out of here," Nadine said.
"Are we still having our daily Bible study?" Tina asked.
"I'm not sure. My mom called me a few hours ago, telling me that she won't be available tonight, that she's going out with a friend or something."
"Oh. Well, we can do it without her, can't we?" Tina asked.
"Perhaps." Nadine had to wonder, though. Who was this mysterious new friend of her mother's?
Elizabeth Raiford was almost done packing up her stuff before heading home. All that was left was the homework that she still needed to grade. She'd do that later that night, after the CWS meeting at her house. She checked her watch. It was about 2:40 PM, so she had a little over an hour before the meeting. Today's meeting was an important one. So far, the CWS was just making noise, but after tonight, they were going to make some waves. Mainly by getting the town of Lake Point involved. Surely, Mayor Richard Dickinson would rather have his town strip-club-free than not.
Athena DeVries walked alongside her best friend Zoe Gibson, on her way home, when suddenly they spotted Zoe's brother Jon and his best friend Karyn in almost a mad dash.
"Where the fuck are they going in such a hurry?" Zoe asked.
"I don't know," Athena said. She paused, touching the small crystal pendant hanging from her neck. "Zoe. I didn't have a chance to tell you before, but lately I've been ... aware of something."
"Aware?"
"Something magical. I can't really explain it, but it feels like something is off ... in town, I mean."
"Don't look now," Zoe said, in a more hushed voice. "It's the Jesus freaks."
Athena turned and saw Nadine Ferguson and Tina Shepard, the local Bible-thumpers. Nadine gave Athena a dirty glance and spat out "Devil worshiper." Then she and her friend turned away and walked off into the distance.
"I'm not a devil worshiper," Athena said, not loud enough for anyone but Zoe to hear her. "I just know a little about magic, that's all."
"Just ignore her," Zoe said.
"I just wish she got to know me a little better. Maybe then she wouldn't hate me so much."
"You want that bitch to be your friend? Yeah, right, like that would ever happen," Zoe said, with a laugh.
"Yeah, I know. But I just wish people wouldn't make fun of me ... of us, as much as they do. So, we want to be different. What's so wrong about that?"
Zoe shook her head. "They're just a bunch of ignorant jerks, Athena. Plain and simple. Now, let's talk about something else, okay?"
Athena grinned. "Okay."
Jon ran up to his bedroom and Karyn followed. When she entered the room, Jon already had the stone in his hand.
When Jon was sure that Karyn was within earshot of the stone, he said "I wish to know what my vague wish from last night did." The stone glowed.
"Well?"
"It ... caused a doctor to have more clients."
"That's it?" Karyn asked. Jon was having a little trouble understanding what made that so interesting, as well.
"Well, I guess he usually has only one client every week or so, but now he had five all in the same day and all in this town."
"It doesn't seem all that interesting to me."
"Well, let's just be thankful that nothing more happened. I think we really dodged a bullet here." Jon looked down at the stone. "I really screwed up, Karyn. That vague wish could have ended the world for all know. I think ... I think we should plan out our wishes ahead of time. Maybe write them down? I mean, it's not like I'm going to lose the stone or something. I'll have it for a while. Waiting a couple of days won't hurt anything."
"That's a good idea, Jon. Believe me, I know exactly what you're feeling," Karyn said, gesturing towards her larger breasts. "If I hadn't been so careless ..."
"Okay, then it's settled. Oh, but I should make one more wish right now, just to make sure there won't be any blunders until we can write up a list of wishes."
"What do you have in mind?"
"I wish that until this Friday, no one will be able to use the wishing stone." The stone glowed, granting the wish. "Okay, that gives us about two or three days to put a list together."
"I'm already thinking of a few in my head," Karyn said.
"I'll get a pen and some paper," Jon said.
