"Well?" Karyn asked nervously.
"Nothing. This stupid stone doesn't like answering questions apparently... but I think it's getting better."
"What do you mean?"
"As soon as I... I mean you... as soon as you backed up, I felt like I could assert myself a bit more. The thoughts are still there but I feel like I can sort them out a bit better. Like I remember how you felt today when you saw Sarah... I can feel that pang of jealousy and anger, but I can't quite grasp exactly what you were thinking."
"Jealous? Of Sarah? I'm not jealous!"
"Yeah you are. I feel the same way," he took several steps closer. "I mean, it would be nice to be able to get away with the things she does... the outfits, cutting class. Just once it might be nice if guys could look at me the same way..."
"Jon stop it!" Karyn interrupted, "That's kind of creepy."
"Sorry." He backed up again.
"You know, you could get a lot of dirt on people that way," Karyn said.
"But I can't control it. God, how am I going to handle school this way?"
"I have an idea," Karyn said. So did Jon. They didn't even have to explain to each other. Jon picked up his cell phone, and Karyn grabbed hers from her bag and slowly walked out of the room. Jon focused his mind on the way he felt about Sarah. He felt his jealousy gradually melting away. Soon, it was just a grudging admiration, which eventually transformed into a slightly ashamed lust. That was it. Yeah, she was hot, but she was way out of his league and way too stuck up anyway.
He quickly sent the text he'd already typed up:
STOP
A few seconds later the response came back.
I'm in your kitchen, by the fridge
Jon did some quick, rough math. That was... let's see... maybe 50 or 60 feet. There was no way he could keep that kind of perimeter at school. Hell, it was barely maintainable at home. At that thought, a knock came at the door, and his mother stepped in.
"Jon, I just... where's Karyn?"
"Oh, she's in the kitchen... getting a drink."
"Jon, it that a good way to treat a guest?"
"You're right," he replied "I should have offered to get it myself."
Jon's mom looked confused for a second. "Right. Well, I was just coming by to say that it's getting late and Karyn should probably head home."
Jon nodded, "Yeah, her mother might start to worry." In fact, he thought, he'd better start getting ready for bed himself. He had a big client meeting tomorrow, and hadn't even ironed his skirt... wait. His mom looked at him strangely, but smiled.
"Goodnight, sweetie. See you in the morning."
"G'night," he said as she left to go to her room, which was right next to Jon's. Jon pinched his arm, trying to regain his focus. Moments later, Karyn was back.
"So... my mom was just here."
"Oh my god! And?"
"Same thing."
"So it's not just me then... it must be everybody. What are you going to do about school"
"I don't know," he said, then he picked up the rock.
