Karyn stared out the window, watching the scenery pass by. Houses and buildings that she had passed by a thousand times, at least, in both of her lives. With some small exception, of course. In her old life, before Ms. Holloway had worked her magic, Karyn hadn't had any reason to come near the wealthy neighborhoods that Sarah lived in. Her parents had brought her and her older brother down that way a few winters to look at the various decorations on the houses, but that was about it. Now, though? Now it was familiar. Just like Sarah's house, and the houses of the other girls.
"Everything okay?" Mike asked, glancing over at her. He was gripping the steering wheel with both hands, looking a little nervous. He wasn't a confident driver, having just barely passed his driving test. To his credit, the knowledge that he hadn't aced it did actually prompt him to be more careful when he was behind the wheel.
"Just a little tired," Karyn said, reaching over and squeezing his hand. She didn't hold it there, didn't want to add to the nerves he was feeling. Mike was another instance of 'familiar but new'. She hadn't really known him, before. He had been one of those jocks who backed up the others in a passive way. His large frame was imposing, and his presence had caused a lot of people to think better of talking back against the more aggressive jocks. The Steve Farbers and Tom Welles' of the school, along with Biff on really bad days. It was an interesting dynamic, because she now knew him as a total softy.
She knew him really well, actually. In this world, she realized when she saw him and he kissed her, they had been dating since the prior year. It had started with him asking for her help studying in a class they shared, and then... well, things had just progressed. A dinner for helping, then a movie. Before long they were an item. Weird to consider, because she hadn't thought he would be her type. Not that she really thought she had a type.
God, this is all so fucked, she thought. Even more so when she recalled seeing Jen kiss Chris Morgan. He was a fine guy, one of those popular kids who kind of rose above being part of one clique and could get along with everyone. Jen could do worse, but... well, Jen was really Jon. Or had been Jon, and Karyn couldn't imagine that her friend wanted to be kissing or dating a guy. Not that the magic at work seemed to care, and if Jen was being affected as much as Karyn was...
They rounded a corner and Karyn could see her house, both of her parents cars in the driveway along with an additional one that was familiar. She gasped. "Oh my God, Sean's here?"
"That's awesome, Sean's a cool guy," Mike said, pulling up to the curb and parking.
"Yeah he is," Karyn said. She climbed out of the car and was quickly joined on her side by Mike, who took her hand as they walked to the door. It felt so strange and so normal and that divide was giving her a bit of a headache. Needing to reconcile two different sets of memories, two worlds that she had existed in. She shook her head and opened the door, walking in.
Her parents were in the living room, on the couch, looking the same as always. Sean was in one of the big chairs that sat diagonal from the couch. He was wearing a tee shirt under an open flannel shirt and a pair of jeans with rips at the knees. That wasn't a style thing, like some of the kids at school wore. Like this new her wore, she realized. It was just because he had torn up the knees. He was an outdoorsy guy, had spent a lot of time camping and taking up other hobbies that saw him going out and being active. Skateboarding, biking, all of that stuff. Falls had worn his clothes down. He had red hair and a beard that could use some trimming. They had all had red hair until her stupid wish when she had first gotten her hand on the stone. Now she was the odd one out. In her immediate family, at least. They had relatives who were blonde.
"There she is!" Sean said, standing up and approaching Karyn. Mike let go of her hand and she hugged her brother. "Was wondering where you got off to."
"I was out with my friends, didn't know you were coming by."
"It'd be a shitty surprise if I gave it away," Sean said. He broke away from the hug and reached out to shake Mike's hand. "Mike, how's it going. Been a while."
"Going good. How about you?"
"No complaints, living it up on campus," Sean said.
"Will you be joining us for dinner, Mike?" Karyn's mom asked.
"If you don't mind having me," Mike said.
"Not at all," Karyn's dad said. "It'll be nice to have so many people here."
Karyn, could you help me get some things ready?" her mom asked. She nodded, barely registering Sean and Mike starting to chat about sports. Her dad was listening in, adding occasional comments. It was all so surreal, so hard to wrap her head around. This magic was crazy strong to make her feel so confused and comfortable with all of this. It felt like a trap, and that kind of made sense. If things felt this normal and this nice then it wasn't hard to consider a world where she wouldn't mind this new reality. And if, somehow, that became true for the others?
She'd need to talk to Jen about it once things broke up here. There might not be a clear way to change things back, but if they could minimize the dame then they should try, right?
