At the same time back with Nadine she overheard the conversation the Taylor twins were having.
"I'm just surprised you're branching out from athletics. I know you've always liked those stage shows, but I never thought you'd join one." Melony was saying to her twin. She was still wearing preppy clothes similar to the day the day before, and like the original Sarah Taylor.
"And why not? Once I set my mind to it no one can stop me. If I want to be a more rounded person branching out into new interests is essential, right?" Felicia Taylor stated her philosophy.
Felicia had a more toned body than her sister. Aspects of her original life as Coach Felicia Barry, near Olympian, had carried over. This version of her retained a lifelong love of athletics like her original self, even joining the volleyball team. She had also picked up Jennifer Taylor's love of the theater. Rather than joining the school play each year she had tried out for the first time.
"I know you'll give it your all. I'm proud of you for doing something you love sis. I just don't want you getting upset if anyone says you don't belong there." Melony sighed as she expressed her worry. She had felt similar worry when Jackie was her sister, though that was due instead to her shyness.
"I'll just have to prove that I belong. Besides, being one of the maids I'll mostly be dancing and singing the chorus songs. If I have to I'll whip those others girls into dancing shape so it'll be the best show this school has ever seen!" Felicia proclaimed loudly. Melony could only laugh along happily at her sister's response.
"Just make sure they're able to move after your boot camp coach." Melony earned a giggle from her sister.
"Why can't things be like that with my sister?" Nadine asked herself.
Like many other families in town the Black family had it's numbers altered. Nadine had an estranged older sister in college. The two weren't exactly on friendly terms, but Nadine had often wished they could make up. She wasn't sure when her sister had become so distant, but it hardly seemed to matter. When she saw siblings with a good relationship she couldn't help feeling a little jealous.
Nadine turned and walked down the hall until she saw Mallory and Mandy looking dejected.
"Mallory? What happened?" She approached the younger girls, wanting to help.
"We tried talking my sister into giving Jon's phone back, but she and her girlfriend were complete bitches." Mandy complained.
"Why did you even approach them? Didn't Jon tell you he has a plan?" Nadine admonished them. Barb and her group would likely have their guard raised now, and that would just make things more difficult.
"I had to try something! If I hadn't dragged Jon out of the McDonalds so fast last night maybe he wouldn't have left his phone. He and Tiffany wouldn't have to go through this." Mallory kept her eyes down, but Nadine recognized the guilt in her voice.
'Damn it Jon. You're not supposed to make your little sister cry like this.' She thought to herself. She knew Jon hadn't intended this. That Mallory likely hadn't expressed her guilt, and recklessly tried to fix things her own way to fix her misguided feelings.
"Mallory, it isn't either of your faults this happened. Jon left his phone, but neither of you could have known someone would take it and blackmail him. Things turned out bad, but he's working his butt off to make things right. He's reaching out for help and making a plan. I'm actually a little impressed with how smart he's being about it, but don't tell him that." She smiled, and the giggle she earned was like music.
"I'm sorry my family is ruining things." Mandy took up the mantle of guilt in a moment.
"No apologizing from you either. You did what you could to help, and from what I can see you are trying to live an upstanding life. You can't be blamed for the sins of your family." Nadine almost sounded like a toned down version of her original self. "Just be ready to help us when Jon and Tiffany confront them. We need to make sure things go well so everyone can be happy again."
Nadine was still far away from reconciling with her own sister, but she'd do everything she could to prevent a rift from growing between Jon and Mallory.
