"That woman still knows how to get on my nerves." Stephanie had growled after Jon had gotten in the car. She had been excited by the idea of seeing her old friend, hoping she had matured in her older age. Instead Zoe was as flippant as she had always been, and she had passed it onto her children.
"Were the two of you close? Mrs. Brewer mentioned you had a goth phase?" Jon questioned. He wasn't surprised to hear his new mom had been part of the scene in her youth, considering her original life. He saw Stephanie shift uncomfortably, easily deducing it was something the Asian mother was not proud of.
"Zoe was one of my best friends when we were around your age. People back then were even worse than they are now to people of different cultures, and I rebelled. Your grandmother even threatened to disown me, but I didn't care then." Stephanie sighed and reluctantly explained. "Zoe was a chubby outcast, and seemed so interesting. She welcomed me with no judgment, and always stood by me. We did everything together. Concerts, movies, clubs."
"So what caused you to drift apart?" Jon hadn't expected to get this kind of background information without the app, but found himself fascinated.
"It was like I said at her house. Zoe was incredibly smart, and it seemed effortless for her. She slowly started putting on more weight as she met and began dating her husband. We spent less time together, and I got frustrated. It felt like my carefree and fun best friend was being taken away. That she was going to waste her life with that four eyed little worm. She could have been at the forefront of any industry she wanted, but he chained her to the house with his desires." Stephanie spat venomously.
"Mom, were you jealous? Were you and Zoe... Did you have a crush on-?" Jon found himself saying his thoughts out loud, and recoiled when Stephanie turned building resentment toward him.
"WE WERE JUST FRIENDS!" She yelled. Silence filled the car as she immediately realized what she had done. She turned back to the road and stared ahead.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I just..." Jon eventually tried, but had no idea what to say.
"No, I'm the one who should apologize Jon. Your grandparents were not very open to those kind of ideas, and I always felt like I was on defense back then." Stephanie had tears in her eyes as she recalled memories of her parents asking if she was queer. Of denying she had any feelings beyond friendship for Zoe, and Zoe's own frustration that they never took the next step past some experimenting. "We went our separate ways, she got married, I met your father. We'd see each other from time to time, and I was always worried to see how big she was getting, but she seemed happy. You may not remember, but we even had some awkward play dates with you kids and her children. Soon she was hardly leaving her house during the day. She spouted that her life goal was to be immobile, and we fought again."
"And that was the last straw?" Jon nudged a little further.
"We agreed to stay civil in public, but she still loves pushing my buttons. I'd hoped after all these years she'd changed, but it's just not in her nature." Stephanie had a wistful look as she watched the road.
Jon knew Zoe was always stubborn, and could be mischievous. He wasn't surprised to learn she had gotten set in her ways, pushed forward by her own desires and fetishes from her new life and mindset, and rejected Stephanie's attempts to change her. It wouldn't have been this way if not for his wish. Zoe would still be young and much skinnier, motherhood far away. Stephanie would have remained a slightly older girl in the same social circle. Now they seemed to have a history of attraction.
"Do you regret it? Not letting her know how you felt about her?"
"I wouldn't trade any of you kids for anything. I can't help but wonder, but I made my own choices, and she made hers. I just wanted to look out for her. I hate seeing her like that." Stephanie didn't want to talk about this, especially with Jon, but felt he deserved the truth after her outburst. She loved her family and life, but missed her best friend. If she could have just accepted Zoe as she was, but how could she when Zoe had chosen this life?
"She seemed happy with her life." Jon said simply.
"You just don't understand Jon." She shook her head. "One day she'll regret those choices. That she let herself get that fat. That she let her daughters learn and live that lifestyle."
"But she seemed happy. Isn't that enough?" Jon sighed. As far as his "mom" knew those were Zoe's choices. He knew that it was the result of her personality mixing and changing with several others lives, filtering her into a new person. It wasn't her choice. He had forced her to be this way. He had caused this trouble between the two women. He wanted to hold onto the idea Zoe was happy as she was for now, in case of the worst. That he couldn't change her back. He promised he'd do all he could for everyone wrapped up in this, but for now his solace was that he hadn't completely ruined things.
Stephanie wondered on Jon's words.
'When did he get so mature?' She thought to herself as they turned onto their street.
"Hey Jon, your girlfriend and her mom are here!" Mallory had run out to greet them.
Jon got out of the car and walked in the house. He wondered who had taken the role of Tiffany's mom. He didn't even know her last name in this reality yet.
"There you are Jon! I've been so worried since you weren't answering your phone." Tiffany got out of a chair and ran to him, embracing him in a hug with tears down her cheeks.
"Tiffany, you don't need to be so dramatic. I told you he'd be alright." Her mom said from where she was seated.
Jon froze, staring at Karyn. He had seen her in this form before, but now she was connected to his life again. She was Tiffany's mom?!
