School was finally over for Lilly. She didn't have to do swimming as it turned out, she 'forgot' her kit.. (or rather, didn't actually think to take it). She had a ton of homework to do though, and wasn't sure how she was going to do it. It was a lot more then the other students. She knew private schools tended to push students harder but this was really hard! Still she wanted to do well... she had to do well.
She had watched Jenny and Artemis once again, go out on their patrols very early before school finished. They were being given special dispensation by Miss Violet, to do pretty much whatever they wanted. Lilly frowned a bit at that. Here she was worrying about what was happening to her, while they got to at least have cool adventures! But the last time she followed Jenny... Melanie put her to sleep!
That showed Melanie had magic of her own, and by the way she acted she was still getting used to things here. Lilly thought she was quite clever to think of her, when probably nobody else would. She had walked over to Jenny's house, and anxiously rang the door bell. Jenny's mother was there.
"H-Hi..." said the squirrel girl.
"Oh- hello Lilly," Smiled the insect woman as she observed the animal-girl. "My goodness, you look adorable in that uniform. I'm afraid Jenny isn't home right now." Her eyes showed she was a little worried every time her daughter went on patrols... but it was something she would have to get used to.
"I-I know. I was lookin' for Melanie?" Lilly glanced behind trying to see inside the house.
The police officer frowned a bit. "She's staying with my mother and father. It's quite some distance away. Why are you looking for her?" Muriel looked a little concerned. This was certainly a very odd request.
Lilly tensed a bit. This just got a lot more complicated. "I- well- um- I just wanted to see how she was." It was such a terrible lie, and Lilly had to accept she wasn't any good at it. Children never were. She tried to flesh it out a bit. "Could I visit her?"
Muriel looked at the squirrel girl again. "Maybe we can arrange something in a few weeks Lilly," she said smiling to her. "I'll ask Jenny if you can come to something with us. Would you like that?" Muriel hunched over and placed a hand onto the squirrel-girl's head.
Lilly frowned a bit. It looked like she didn't have much of a choice. She stared at the police uniform Muriel had noting her surname on a badge. Walsh... that was useful to know. "Y-Yes Miss," she said quietly, biting her lip as her thoughts immediately turned to how to find her parents.
"Good. Take care dear," Muriel then closed the door.
Lilly stood alone on the street. She wondered how she would find Muriel's parent's house, without anyone being the wiser? Maybe the internet could help? But she wasn't that smart any more! She wasn't even sure she could use a computer for anything too difficult. Or maybe a phone book? Would Muriel's parents be on there? She saw her surname, and maybe just maybe... she could use it to find them... but then her mum and dad would be very angry at her, if she started knocking on what could be a stranger's house. Though- she could smell if they were strangers or not.. right?
Anezza floated back across the roads, several miles above ground. This was... a lonely experience indeed. She wondered if it was possible to miss gravity. To be grounded, in some way. Her ability to defy physics was nothing short of a miracle... whatever she was. She clutched her doll-like friend carefully, as they returned back to her home. She brushed aside some of the red-lettered papers strewn about the place.
Things were getting quite desperate now. It was clear she would have to move, and at least she had the option of moving back in with her parents. There was no escaping that it would be a defeat to her... a humiliation, worse then her transformation into this creature.
She floated towards the shelves, digging out an old box. She started to consider what keepsakes to have, to fill it with? What exactly was valuable here to her? Well... she took her picture of her old self, and her parents. Such piercing eyes he used to have. It was strange how she never noticed it before. She thought he looked fairly handsome but... oh well. She was starting to regret burning everything else. She looked through a few books on her shelf. Nothing of it was of value to her. Maybe she could sell the house with all the content, to get a bit more money? It would help start fresh, and then she wouldn't have to worry about moving furniture.. though it might make selling a bit more difficult.
Strangely enough, Anezza was drawn to the kitchen, where an old tea-pot was. It was a present from a rather eccentric co-worker. She didn't know why she kept it, perhaps because nobody had ever given her old self a birthday present... and it was a nice tea-pot. She put it in the box, fairly certain she could make something other then tea with it. What else? Clothes were useless now... she didn't need a bed, she just didn't need... anything. She took her computer though.
Her box in the end, just ended up as a few meager items.
Finally she signed 'Sell house. Quick. I go...'
Lilly finally found the house, curved up upon a hill. Using the surname it wasn't too hard at all to find. She could smell that distinctive scent that both Jenny and Melanie had. She knocked on the door, and gasped cringing as a ferocious looking fire-lion opened the door. Did everyone in this family have magic?!
"Yes?" He bellowed, as flames licked across his features.
"I-I-" Lilly stammered.
"Do speak up little one," the lion-man said looking quite intrigued.
"I- um- is Melanie here? c-come to p-lay"
"Oh? Are you a friend of hers?" Asked the lion-man. He opened the door encouragingly.
Lilly nodded quickly. "Yes! I'm a friend. I want to play with her. I'm Lilly. S-she knows me. Ask her."
The lion man called for Melanie, as the small insect girl responded fairly roboticly. "Summoned?" She asked tilting her head.
"Do you know this girl? She says you are a friend and wants to play with you."
Melanie stared at the squirrel girl. The one who named her. Made her smaller. Yes, of course she knew her. "The one named Lilly."
The lion man nodded. "Ah.. good. Well go ahead, and play then." He smiled letting Lilly in. "I'm actually glad she has a friend. You... do know the story about her, right little girl?"
Lilly nodded. "Uh huh.. I was there... We'll go play." This was her chance! Now she can get more knowledge about magic.
Melanie took Lilly's hand, grabbing it tightly... and took her to the play room. Inside, Finally she let go, and Lilly saw the huge doll house. She was amazed at how big it was, and all the little dolls around. Though- this was way too girly. She had to get to business quickly.
"Sit" Melanie commanded.
Lilly found herself complying. "I wanted to ask you-"
"Play." Melanie said giving her a doll. "This Mommy doll, this daddy, and this girl." She repeated, mimicking how Jenny taught her how to play. With these strange things. She was told to play, and that is what she would do. Finally an action to actually do. It was a relief to her, and she wanted to do it right.
"Actually Melanie I-"
"You play with me." Melanie stated as fact. "They said you play with me, so you play with me. "This Mummy, This daddy, this girl." The insect girl practically shoved the doll into Lilly's hand. She stared at her patiently.
Lilly stared at the doll. "Um... well... okay..." It didn't look like she had any choice.
