Lilly sighed still a little distracted...
Jenny and Artemis were talking with each other. she wasn't sure what it was about, but it seemed a little too 'gossipy' for her. She wasn't really sure how to be part of the new trio, given that the other two connected so easily and quickly. She guessed they had more in common with each other then her. After all they didn't stray far from the human mould while she was just an animal. She couldn't help but feel awkward in dealing with other kids, especially other girls... even if she was technically one of them too.
She tried to focus on other things. She wondered what the lesson will be? She had to re-learn things again, and was adamant to give it her best shot.
"Can I see you Lilly?" Asked the teacher.
Lilly looked up at the strange creature that their teacher was. She was dressed in one of those dress uniforms that Miss Violet also wore. Although clearly not quite as senior as her. Lilly tried not to be scared of her lower body, that of a giant spider. The teacher was quite pretty otherwise, if you didn't look at that part.
"Y-yes?" The squirrel girl said a bit intimidated.
"Your handwriting is not quite at the standard we expect... I can barely read it," She said.
Lilly gulped. She never had good handwriting. It just never seemed important. Nobody else ever complained. It might have become even worse since her change. "W-What's wrong with it miss?"
The teacher took out a book and showed the paper. "Your O's look like A's, and the lettering's are all miss-matched sizes. I'd like to give you some extra work in practising decent cursive handwriting." She scuttled to the desk, and placed a few extra sheets of paper down. "Do this when you have free time. Remember, part of the grade is in neatness."
"Yes Miss," Lilly said taking the assignment.
Jenny and Artemis giggled, making the squirrel girl blush a bit.
Jenny continued to talk with the moon child Artemis. Jenny couldn't really remember much of their strange experience, though she retained enough to feel that 'something' might have happened. The more she thought about it the more the surreality of the dream world came into focus. She remembered taking hold of Lilly, as Artemis opened a door to another place... and it was like they were flying.
However, Lilly was very heavy to keep holding the further they went, and for some reason drifted away. She wasn't quite as worried as she felt she should have been, had the circumstances been different... but then, the dream world was built on meta-physics and realities where choice rarely existed in just how things were.
"You must have magic," Said Artemis peering at her curiously, speaking quietly enough for nobody else to hear.
"Um... a... little," Jenny said biting her lip. She wasn't sure if she should divulge her secret... that she was one of the numbers. Magic girl Four. "Why can't Lilly remember anythin' at all?" she asked trying to get to her earlier question.
The moon child looked sadly as she glanced at the squirrel girl then back to Jenny. "Cause she doesn't have magic. I think it's like tryin' to pick up somethin' that's too heavy- an' it might be a little dangerous for her to do that again. I got to ask my other mother when I see her."
Jenny thought that was terribly sad. Lilly seemed to want to go to the moon so much, yet she was barred just as the majority of people would be. Only those with a connection to magic could travel this 'magic' realm within dreams. Magic may not be the only qualifier... but it made such travel a lot easier. Jenny had faith that if there was a way, Lilly would find it in her own way.
"She did pretty good to get as far as she did, an' the dreams are quiet so she was okay" said Artemis. "I'm sorry she couldn't see all the moon. I'll ask Mommy if there's anothe way... but even if she did, she wont remember."
"Do you think your mother can really help Lilly?" Asked Jenny. She wanted her friend to be happy... and she didn't seem very happy as a girl. Even though she didn't understand why, it didn't matter.
Artemis looked unsure. "I- I really don't know. I'll ask but..."
Jenny nodded. It was better then nothing anyway.
Sarah stood next to Jon and Karyn. They had yet to see their gym Teacher. He appeared to be some kind of android.
Jon regarded the android, and it made her think of her sister Mikey... she hoped she was dealing with things okay. She was often the focus of how she felt about things, given she used to be her little brother. A terrible guilt filled her when she thought about how her wish had affected her own family, more so then herself.
She also thought about how she felt in the lockers. Changing with other girls didn't make her feel... anything. It was further evidence that maybe her mind had gone through some change- though that might not be necessarily the case. Jon was always respectful of girls, she wasn't a peeping tom or anything like that. Though the sight of a naked girl used to have an intrigue... but now she saw the sight, when she looked down at herself it was hard for it to have any novelty any more... All it did was make her feel awkward.
The teacher started to do the role call, as everyone said they were in the class... until they got to Tiffany.
"Tiffany?" Asked the android gym teacher.
"She's not here," said Karyn glancing around.
"Could someone search the locker rooms and get her please," asked the teacher. One of the girls quickly complied.
They stood their awkwardly for a few minutes.
A moment later, the girl returned with confusion on her face. "She's... not there."
Tiffany had cried for quite a while in the empty locker room. Was this really it? Was this how small she had become? Naked, save for the glowing tattoos on her body... and to be picked on by Sarah of all people? is that how low in the pecking order she had become? She lacked the will to fight it...
The lightness of her body betrayed the dark inner turmoil she felt. How dare Sarah... How dare she! Yet she dared... and she succeeded in hurting her!
Nobody was allowed to hurt her... not ever again.
And yet.. could they be right? When everyone saying such things about her, what if they were right...
The strange horned girl couldn't take it any more. She had to know the truth... but who did she trust? Who could she trust to tell her that truth when she wouldn't even believe her own father?
Tiffany... didn't even believe herself any more... she was in no shape to do this class. She wasn't even in any shape to be in the school or even to be at home!
Maybe... she should go see the councillor. If nothing else, at least she'll have some respite from all this.
Susan smiled as she saw Andy return home. "How was the interview dear?"
the bunny girl looked unsure. "I... I think it went okay." She blushed brightly at the sight of the snake-man... the same thought was going through her mind every time she saw him. Given she had been away from his company for so long, it was taking a large effort not to jump on him right now.
"I've been thinking on the clothes to buy for Alex," said Susan. "You don't suppose we should make sure they are flame retardant do you?" He laughed a little.
Any smiled and quickly rushed to hold her husband, sinking into his face. Was this what Maple meant by expressing everything after a long day away? She was so caught up that she was already kissing him. She felt a happiness as her affections were responded to.
The two would spend several hours more together
Adam was very glad her boss was treating the situation as 'normal'. It felt anything but normal to her... the whole thing was so difficult. What was she trying to prove? That she could do this as other people? But she had a possible way out of it! The air-bubble back home had great power... yet for some reason, some crazy reason, she felt this was important.
Maybe it was a penance... she wished her grandmother was still alive to tell her where she got the bubble from.
"Phone call for you," Said the Alligator man with a little chuckle. "It's your mom."
Adam blushed. oh crud... "H-Hello?" She said into the phone as the alligator man held it to her ear. "I got it," She said holding it between her shoulder and ear.
The alligator man shrugged and left her to it.
"Are you okay honey? I'm sorry I fell asleep, I wanted to help you get ready for work."
The harpy girl cringed. "I know- sorry mom... I just wanted to see if I can still do this myself."
"You left your keys... and your pants," She chided. "Are you sure you don't want me to get them to you? I'm sure I can ask a changed neighbour," she offered.
Adam cringed again. Oh that would be the height of embarrassment! "N-No mom. Really.. I'm fine. If I need pants there's plenty of shops here anyway."
"Okay dear... call me if you need anything. I'll be in the house to let you in after work. I'll go back to sleep."
"Thanks mom..." The harpy girl released the phone as it crashed to the floor. She picked it up with her talons and rested it onto the cradle.
She spent a few moments reflecting on what to do... but it was a busy day. There were several customers in the store now, and there seemed to be one particularly irate one. The harpy girl sighed as she went to the counter. "How may I help you?" She said pleasantly. Her voice seemed.. just a bit too chirpy.
"Yeah- I want to return this console." he said.
"What's wrong with it?" she asked.
"Well.. we keep seeing weird things on the screen with it. But then they are gone quickly. Like.. people or something," He explained. "Now it's just completely broken."
The harpy girl sighed. "Send it to the repair shop.. if it can't be repaired, we'll refund 50% of it."
"I want a complete refund!"
"Sir its out of warranty. Technically we don't have to give you anything, but a lot of consoles were burnt out when the sun changed. We're not sure why... but we can't afford to replace them all. I'm really sorry. Just fill out a form here."
The man sighed and nodded. "Yeah.. okay. You got a pen?"
Adam went to grab it with her feathered arm... and stopped. She couldn't grab the pen... something as simple as grasping it was no longer possible. She certainly didn't want to 'bite' it to get it to the customer....
She carefully brushed the pen with her feathered arm, onto her other arm, and tried to keep it level as she brought it to the counter. It was tricky and slow... but manageable.
The customer's irritation turned into slight amusement watching the harpy struggle. It was rude.. but it was a damn funny sight to watch. "I... think I've got a pen," He offered in the end. "Hold on..."
"No I got this," insisted Adam. The pen dropped onto the counter, but then fell onto the floor.
The customer picked it up. "Thanks... yeah I got it."
Adam sighed. This was going to be another long day...
