On Sarah and her friends' way to their lockers, someone called out Melissa's name.
"Psst, Melissa," a boy said. She turned and looked into an alcove on the side of the hallway. It was Jay Duncan, one of the school's biggest geeks. He was also one of the smartest students at the school and the head of chess club.
"Jay?"
"Hi, Melissa. Cool outfit. I like the silver make-up."
"Really? Thanks," she said. At least someone liked what she wore.
"I wanted to know if you wanted to come with me to the sci-fi con this weekend."
"Why are you asking me?"
"Well, we are friends," Jay said.
We are? Melissa thought. Apparently, she had more friends than she thought. First Wendi and now Jay.
"What would I wear?"
"What you have now is fine, or something else."
"I wouldn't look silly?"
"Are you kidding me? With all the people dressed up as Klingons, Wookiees, and Cylons? You wouldn't look any weirder than anyone else."
"What are you going as?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out," Jay said, with a smile.
"A mystery, huh?"
"Yep. So, you wanna go with me?"
Melissa thought about it and decided it might be fun. "Sure."
"Okay, I'll pick you up at nine on Saturday. That's nine in the morning." Jay started to walk out of the alcove, but then turned to Melissa. "Don't tell your friends about this. I know what they think about the geek crowd."
"Uh, okay," Melissa said.
Jay smiled, then left.
Then Melissa joined her friends at their lockers.
"Where were you?" Sarah asked.
"Someone asked me out on a date. I mean, I think it was a date."
"Are you sure the guy wasn't messing with you?"
"I'm sure. He seemed really genuine."
Sarah shrugged her shoulders, then continued to get her books for first period out of her locker.
Suddenly Nadine Ferguson jumped up into Tiffany's face, nearly scaring the hell out of her.
"Devil worshiper!" she screamed. Then she backed away and looked at all the Goths. "Evil! You're all evil!" Then she continued on her way down the hall.
"What was all that about?" Sarah asked.
"Isn't that that religious girl? Nadine, I think?" Jessica asked. As popular girls, they never really had that many run-ins with her.
Tiffany just stood at her open locker, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was racing. "She called me a devil worshiper," she whispered.
"Well, you are a witch," Melissa said.
"So?"
"Aren't witches supposed to be devil worshipers?"
"I don't worship the devil, Melissa." She paused. "Maybe I'm a good witch."
Melissa shrugged her shoulders, then continued to get her books from her locker.
As Tiffany looked back to her own locker, she noticed someone coming down the hall. It was Athena.
"Wow," Sarah said. "Does she look different. She actually looks hot."
Tiffany had been going over the witchcraft books the night before, but it was all written in Latin, which she didn't understand. So, she wanted to consult with Athena before she tried to say the spells out loud. And she used this opportunity to ask her.
"Athena, I was wondering if you could ..."
"Ugh, get away from me," Athena said, pushing her away.
"Athena, it's me, Tiffany. I wanted to ask you about those witchcraft books. I need your help to ..."
"Figure it out yourself," she snapped at her. "I'm busy." Then she continued on her way, apparently looking for something ... or someone.
Tiffany just stood there, shocked. Sarah walked by, holding her books. "It looks like we're not the only ones who are acting different."
