Jon passes the threshold of her home out of breath, partly because of her brisk pace, though just as likely because of her excitement. Today's the day she returns to normal! Today's the day she gets the stone back. She's beaming happily as she grabs some fruit from the fridge, and plops into the lazyboy opposite her sister.
"Hey Zoe." Jon chirps. She plucks the remote from the table and flips the TV over to SciFi. "Hope you weren't watching that." She states as she chomps into the peach. Juice gets all over her face, though she just wipes it from her cheeks boyishly.
"Oh... Hey Allison. Not really." she raises her eyebrow. "Since when have you liked the Scifi channel?"
"Longer than you know." She laughs. "Besides, I'm looking to see if a show's on that Joshua told me about."
"Joshua? Is he on the football team?"
"Nah, he's just some guy that's helping me with algebra."
Zoe laughs. So that's why she likes scifi now. At least he's someone helping her with class instead of just another meathead. She leans back and looks more closely at the stone in her hand. She's still apprehensive about holding it, much less wishing on it, though as things are looking better with Allison she finds herself more and more content with its power.
John takes another bite, then looks to her sister. "How was your day?"
"Huh? Oh, well... It was pretty good. I got a lot done." She smiles. "Ms.Brooke asked me to be the chemistry teachers aid next year, and she's the AP teacher!"
Jon smiles and looks to her sister. "That's great!" She gasps as she spies the stone in Zoe's hand. "Zoe."
"I know, I worked so hard to even pass, but apparently I have the best grade in class."
"Zoe..."
"I didn't think I had it in me."
"ZOE!" Zoe's taken aback.
"What?"
"Where'd you get that?"
"Get what..." Zoe clutches the stone defensively
"That stone."
"Grandpa gave it to me..."
"Zoe..." Jon begins to laugh freely. "You have no idea how happy I am to see that stone."
"What are you talking about?"
"Zoe. That's mine! Karen and I looked everywhere for it."
"Uhh... No. Grandpa gave this to me. He trusted it with me. You don't eve know what it's for." Her face screws up in a knot. "You even teased me that you got Grandpa's old ring, and I got this rock."
"I..." Jon huffs her frustration at the differences in reality. "You're probably right... I'm sorry if I did that, but please, do you mind if I just look at it for a second?" Zoe eyes Allison cautiously. "I promise I'll give it right back."
"Ok" Zoe relents. It's not like Allison know's what it does anyway. Slowly she passes the stone.
Jon nods, then looks at the innocuous thing in her hands. It's so much bigger in her hand now... It nearly fills her whole fist where previously it sat in her palm. "Zoe... There's something I need to tell you."
Zoe mutters "What?", right as the front door opens.
Without a second thought John declares. "Karen! Zoe has the wishing stone. We can wish everything back to..." The figure in the door isn't Karen. Jon realized it a second too late.
"Wishing stone?" Ryder scoffs. He strides over to Allison. "What are you talking about?" He shakes his head and takes her hands in his own. Her face goes sheet white, and he notices. "Why are you like this all of a sudden? I've been trying to talk to you, and you're not even responding to my texts anymore. What's the deal?"
"Ryder, can you just give me some space..."
He talks over her. "Is it that guy from study hall? Are you going out with him now?"
"What! No? How'd you even know about..."
"Then what's the deal!" He shouts his exasperation, then plucks the stone from her weak and trembling hands.
"Hey! That's mine!" Allison croaks out.
"It's mine!" Zoe interjects.
He looks at both of them "A wishing stone? You skipped out on me for some strip mall trinket?"
"It's not a trinket, grandpa gave it to me." Jon insists. Zoe shoots a befuddled look at her sister.
Ryder looks at the stone, then sighs. "The one that died?"
Jon nods. "Now can you please give it back? And just go home... We can...We can talk tomorrow. I promise."
He sighs. "Fine, but I want to know what's up, you haven't been yourself these past few days, and I want to know why." He looks at the stone, then back at Allison. "I just wish you'd be my girl again." He states plainly, then tosses the rock back to Allison and makes his way for the door.
Someone else now stands in the door and Ryder nods to her. "Are you Karen?"
"Yes..." She whispers softly.
"Thanks for helping Allison with her homework... I really appreciate it."
Karen shoots John a perplexed look. "Oh yeah... Of course."
"What's that old computer for?"
"It's... graphing stuff... geometry."
He nods, then looks back to Allison. "If you need anything just call." He sighs, then walks away, shutting the door behind him.
As soon as the door shuts, Zoe and Karen rush to Jon.
