The house was different. Not to the point of being unrecognizable, but different nonetheless. The couch still faced the TV, the bookshelf was still in the corner, the closet was still messy in a familiar kind of way, but the curtains were darker. The wall had a moon cycle tapestry on it, and the throw pillows were shaped like stars. Mall shop mystical nick knacks decorated the coffee table, and the magazines littered about were both decidedly feminine and decidedly goth. Jon counted 5 salt crystal lamps in the living room alone glowing every color from summer peach to midnight moon. It was actually kind of cool and remarkably soothing. He felt like he was home, a place where his style and quirks were meant to be.
He slipped out of his boots, and tossed his backpack on the couch, but the corset stayed. It seemed that feature of the bet was still non-negotiable. Jon grumbled for a moment, wondering if he'd even be able to remove it to sleep or shower, but shook himself out of the musings in time to realize it didn't matter. He could get the stone, make a few wishes, win a few bets, and everything would be back to normal by the end of the night. Part of him was sad it was over... A small part of him... A very small part of him. With a chuckle he strutted up the stairs, and walked to his room. He threw the door open and...
"HEY! Excuse you, ever heard of knocking?" Zoe shouted.
"Dammit Zoe" Jon responded. "You scared me."
"Me? You're the one barging into my room."
"It's not YOUR room Zoe, I'm sure you don't want to be in my room any more than I want to be in yours. Now get out."
Karyn appeared from somewhere else in the house, and stepped between him and the door frame. "Oh Hey ZOE." She emphasizes the name. "We were wondering when you'd be back. Mina said you usually hang out with Athena all afternoon."
"I usually do, but I'm tired and wanted to go home." Jon admitted.
The real Zoe retorted. "Well, your rooms across the hall."
"No it's not. This isn't funny anymore." Jon insisted.
"Oh, I think it's hilarious." Zoe retorted. "You spent all morning making things worse for me, and you get stuck with it all."
"You know I was giving you so many bets to give you a chance to change back. It's not my fault you have rotten luck."
"And it's not my fault you were so easy to outsmart." Zoe preened. "How was school?"
Jon's temper flared for what felt like the hundredth time that day... He was really on a hair trigger since the noon bet. "Fine, it was actually pretty easy." Jon lied.
Zoe shrugged. "Then I guess you won't mind being Zoe for a few days."
Jon flustered. "Hardy har. You've had your fun, but things are getting out of hand. Maybe I've got it worse, but I know you don't want to be Mina either."
"Actually," Resolved Zoe, "I'm fine being Mina." She leaned back against the beds headboard and rests her hands behind her head. "She's pretty popular, and already friends with most of my pre-goth friends."
Jon opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He glances to Karyn.
"Don't look at me, you made your bed." She crosses her arms.
"So you're just going to hang out with Zoe all night. Yeah right." Jon snaps.
"Hey we've always been friends. Just because you want to get all bitchy all of a sudden doesn't mean we can't still have fun."
Jon scowled at Karyn's use of "have fun.", and his eyes flit to the stones hiding spot under the bed. Relenting he admitted. "Look. That stuff after lunch. I didn't mean it. It's... My... This life's Instincts."
"Well maybe you should learn to deal with those instincts for a while. Maybe this really is Karma."
A vile thought went through his head, but he bit his tongue before it came out... He took a breath and huffed, "At least let me get some of my stuff."
"My stuff, you mean?" Zoe responded. "if you want another bet, sure I'll wager some of my stuff."
Jon grit his teeth. "Fine, I want my box from under my bed."
Karyn scowled, but didn't say anything.
Zoe crossed her legs. "What's in it?" Her eyes lose focus as she thinks for a moment, searching her new memories, then raises an eyebrow. "Just a bunch of crystals and rocks?"
"Yep." Jon concludes.
"Usually I wouldn't agree, but if you want to risk so much for a bunch of rocks, fine. If I win, I get..."
