Zoe sat in the next class arms crossed.
“So, like, what are you going to do about it?”
Zoe shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe apologize to the principal or something.” Zoe replied.
“Probably going to get in trouble.” Athena stated. “I mean, like, I could run a divination, but I don’t think I even have to.” Athena continued.
“It won’t be that bad.” Zoe sighed. “I didn’t really start it. They straight up made Karyn cry.”
“Karyn?” Athena asked.
“Nerdy girl, senior.” Zoe explained.
“Crushing on some senior girl?” Athena teased. “Coming to her rescue?”
“Girl, I don’t need the drama.” Zoe snapped, “She’s…” Zoe paused as she tried to figure out how to explain. “...A friend of Mina’s.” Zoe finally concluded.
"Uh-huh, sure," Athena quipped dismissively. She smirked, reveling in Zoe's annoyance, then said, "Still, this isn't the first time. Your temper gets you in trouble a lot."
“Yeah.” Zoe admitted. “It kind of sucks.” Zoe sneezed as a tingle washed over her. “But come on, it’s worth it. Those bitches keep walking all over everyone. Someone needs to put them in their place.”
“Truth.” Athena reached out and gently took Zoe’s hand and said. “I'm glad I’ve got you around.”
Zoe smiled kindly back, and Athena drew her hand back.
“I mean, it’s not all bad. I might get in trouble at school, but mom will have my back.”
“Your mom’s so cool. She’s like Morticia Adams, such a goth hottie.”
“Yeah.” Zoe agreed, feeling odd about her friend's comments.
“Anyway,” Zoe said, changing the subject. “What’s up with you? Anything exciting happening?”
Athena shrugged. “Not really. Just the usual stuff. I’ve been practicing some new spells, though.”
“Oh yeah?” Zoe perked up. “What kind of spells?”
“Just some simple stuff,” Athena said, looking a bit hesitant. “Like charms to help with studying and stuff.”
Zoe raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like you. I thought you were all divination and scrying in me and Mina’s business.” Zoe teased.
Athena smirked. “Oh sure, but last time I tried that my tarot nearly caught on fire trying to keep up with your sister drama.”
Zoe eye’d Athena suspiciously, but just laughed as they carried on waiting for the final bell.
—-----------------------------------------------
Zoe waved goodbye to Athena, eager to get home and have a second attempt at retrieving the stone. She didn’t care about playing by the rules anymore, she just wanted to change back, but as she stepped out of the side door of the school to walk home, she nearly fainted. It couldn’t be.
In front of her was Karyn. Normal Karyn, not nerdy Karyn, and normal Zoe. Well… normal Mina. The current Zoe shook her head, it was her older sister, no longer goth. She looked just like an older Zoe from before all of the wishing and betting nonsense, only without the goth attire, and more mature and womanly in her figure. Her arms were crossed and her face was smug. She looked so basic in jeans and a simple blouse that Zoe couldn’t help but feel a surge of contempt and annoyance.
“Oh Come on!” Zoe cried. “I swear to the goddess I did not complain.”
“The bet’s conditions don’t lie, ZOE.” Karyn rubbed in her name. Zoe was getting annoyed with that name. It wasn’t really hers, her name was Mina… Err… Jon…
“It has to be something I said to the PE teacher when she was getting on to me.”
Mina shook her head. “Nope it only happened just before the end of school.”
Zoe searched her memories, “I don’t remember.”
“Exactly!” Karyn quipped. “You just complain that much.”
“I do not complain.”
“You’re doing it right now.” Karyn teased.
“Oh come on, you owe me!” Zoe insisted as she looked back and forth between the two. “Let’s make another bet. Just to smooth some of this over.”
Mina’s lips pursed tightly and her eyes squinted. “Karyn owes you, I don’t.” She tossed her, now brunette, hair out and started to walk away.
Zoe gaped, then flushed red. “Yo, what the hell!”
Karyn seemed just as surprised, and looked back and forth between them, before darting after Mina, Zoe huffed hastily behind them trying to keep up.
