"Or is this something more serious? You seemed desperate this afternoon. I haven't seen someone look that lonely in a long time." Karyn softened a little, trying to coax out the truth.
"I...I'm just going through something, and I can't talk to anyone about it...I don't think they'd understand."
"Is it about Tiffany?" She asked.
"Sort of.." Jon said, sighing. "I can't talk to her about it...I mean.."
"It's about her then?" Karyn asked.
"Yes...and no," he struggled.
"And you can't talk to your mother? Never mind...I know teenagers can't always talk to their parents. Although, speaking as a mother myself, we always want to help. What about your other friends?"
Friends? Jon wondered who his friends were in this reality. He couldn't check his phone's contact list or anything for hints. "I..."
Karyn sighed. She'd been there, but wasn't sure why Jon thought his girlfriend's mother was the only one he could talk to...and he seemed to be having a hard time telling her as well. "If you aren't ready to talk about this, you don't have to..." She tried.
"Well, right now, I think maybe I'll wait till tomorrow." He paused. "What time are you leaving work tomorrow?"
Odd question "Well, I usually leave around 2:30." She had to be there early to set up for school breakfast, and then she was done after she cleaned up for lunch. "Except the other day, when I ended up stuck there till after 4. One of the refrigerators was broken and I was waiting for the repairman."
Jon frowned. That explained why she had avoided changing again yesterday. He had to think quick...how could he make sure Karyn was at school at the right time tomorrow? He started to ramble a bit "I...that Drucker woman...I don't want to confront her at her home, it could be dangerous. But she has some kids at school, I think." If he remembered what the app had said, although it might be different kids from when he'd looked. "I'm going to see if they can get her to bring the phone after school....And I just...want someone around if I need help."
Karyn looked at him. "So, you just want me to stay in case there's a problem? And you don't want to tell Tiffany or your Mom because you want her to think you handled everything alone."
Jon nodded. It was easier to let Karyn believe that.
Karyn frowned at him. There was definitely something Jon wasn't telling her, but it might be him being uncomfortable about confronting some low-life woman who stole his phone. Jon was a nice boy, but not exactly an assertive sort. Probably that overprotective mother of his. She hadn't been that way with Tiffany, and she had turned out well. "Fine...I'll hang around for a bit longer."
"Thank you," he said, hoping that would work. He'd made sure Karyn would be at school tomorrow...and he'd try for Athena. But what about Zoe, could he get her there before another change made her even larger, and maybe not even able to leave the house? Maybe a different Mrs Brewer would be more like the original in size and whatever made Zoe take it to where she had would be redirected tomorrow to something else.
