Athena wasn't waiting for Zoe in the usual place that morning. Zoe fretted and fumed, alternating between being angry at being ditched to worrying Athena was sick. She wasn't answering her cell either. The school had a no cell phone policy, but none of the students and few of the teachers took it seriously.
She headed toward her first class, which Athena was in, and there was some stranger sitting in Athena's seat. She slid into the seat next to it, hers. "Why are you...?"
She trailed off as her jaw dropped. It was...Athena. But she was dressed in a blouse and long skirt. It was...plain, somewhat fashionable but mildly conservative. She wasn't wearing her necklace, which she loved, and...she had this odd expression on her face.
"Oh, hello, Zoe," she said, in a calm voice.
"What the fuck are you wearing?"
"I've decided I'm too mature to need to attract so much attention," Athena said, in a tone that scared the crap out of her best friend. "That's a lesson you might learn too. You're special, Zoe. You don't need to curse and act out for people to see it." She smiled.
Zoe stared at her. "Did your parents put you on some kind of meds?"
"No..." Athena said. "I just...decided to grow up and start caring about my future."
"What about..." Zoe started.
"Class is about to start," Athena said. "And I really need to get my grades up if I want to get into a good college."
Zoe just stared at her, something Athena was oblivious to. Her best friend had been turned into a pod person.
