Sarah checked her phone It was a text from Nicole.
Nicole: School just let out. How are you?
Sarah: I'm okay. Wrapping a few things up here. How are you?
Nicole: We're okay. Melissa and I are thinking of hanging out tonight.
Sarah then decided to just call Nicole, as what she had to say would be easier just speaking than trying to say it through texting.
"So where were you thinking of hanging out? I've got to get home. There's some things I need to do and I need to check with Mom." Sarah said.
"Have you heard about your dad?" Nicole asked.
"Yes. It was on the news. I've tried to call him, but I get no answer. His phone must be switched off." Sarah said.
"The latest news reports say he's recovering after the attack, and is doing okay. But for all we know, it could be spin control bullshit." Nicole said.
Sarah was hoping that the wish she had made had done some good. "I know. The news isn't really telling us anything."
"I think he might have been zapped with a Transformation Gun." Nicole said.
Sarah had suspected that herself, but she did not want to be the one to say it. "I just hope it wasn't one of those that turns him into some weirdo."
She had a feeling, however, that it was the Random Gun. She couldn't shake that feeling, as much as she wanted to. It was bad enough what had happened to Biff. Not to mention Reggie and Brad and the others in Mrs. Williams' class. She hoped she was wrong.
"Let me know if you hear anything." Nicole said after a pause. "You take care of things at home and with your Mom. We can talk later."
"Nicole, there's a few things I need to talk to you about." Sarah added. "But later. Talk to you later."
The phone conversation ended. Afterward, Sarah sent a text to Nicole.
Sarah: Don't mention the stone to anyone. I'll explain why when we have a chance to talk alone. Okay?
Nicole: Okay.
Sarah then turned to Jon, Karyn, Zoe, and Athena. "I should be going. Mom should be getting home any minute, and I have to find the right place to stash my key to the chest."
"Athena and I are going to be hanging with the rest of the group at Athena's place." Zoe said. "We might end up spending the night there."
"We're probably going to be watching some classic Gothic horror films." Athena said. "We have them on DVD, just in case the streaming services are out or decide to stop carrying them for some reason."
"I would have thought you'd think today was scary enough already." Sarah said.
"Those films are a different sort of scare." Athena said. "I don't think many of them have much in common with what happened today."
Sarah silently conceded with a nod, and changed the subject. "Anyway, I've got to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
With that, Sarah headed downstairs, followed by Jon, Karyn, Zoe, and Athena. Sarah headed out the front door.
Sarah walked past Zelda, Sabrina, and Trevor without a word. She didn't really have anything to say to them, and didn't really have the time if she did. She needed to get back to her car, and then drive home.
Afterward, Zoe and Athena rejoined their friends at the sidewalk. "So what all did you talk about in there?" Zelda asked.
"Mostly personal stuff." Zoe said.
"They needed my advice and input on a few matters of their own." Athena said. "It's all taken care of."
"Good." Sabrina said. "So, are we going to stop for snacks on the way over to your place?"
"We might as well." Athena said.
And so the Goth friends headed off to their little movie-watching get-together. Athena, for one, was looking forward to it. After spending hours searching for and recovering Transformation Guns at Lake Point High, and that whole cafeteria fight, she was looking forward to spending a few hours just relaxing with her friends.
Jon and Karyn were then left alone in the living room, with the television still tuned to old sitcoms.
"Mom should be here soon." Jon said. "She'll have picked Mikey up by now from his school."
"You'll have some explaining to do." Karyn said. "But your mother's probably heard the news by now so you'll be fine."
"I guess you're right." Jon replied.
"Tell you what. I think after the rough day you've had, you could use someone around here who was there." Karyn said. "I'm going to call my mom and tell her I'm spending the night here. I could sleep on the couch if your Mom doesn't mind."
"Thank you." Jon said. "At least both of us have parents who are home tonight. Jay's mom is likely to be stuck at MTI trying to clean up the mess over there. And so are a lot of people's parents."
"They're probably not going to get a lot of sleep tonight." Karyn said. "I hope they'll be okay."
