“Now don’t be shy,” grinned the magician, pointing into the crowd “Come on up.”
“No way,” protested Sarah, you’re not making a fool of me like did to those dweebs.” The crowd booed and jeered and within seconds she gave in, her need for popularity overcoming her reluctance.
“Now before I begin, would you be so kind as to tell us your name?”
“Tsk, Sarah McMillan.”
“Ah the heir to the illustrious McMillan Industries, I bet you’ll be running it in a few years.”
“As if,” snorted Sarah, rolling her eyes.
Fred chuckled and started with the theatrics. “Seeing how successful the last trick was, I think in addition we shall try for a more physical change this time.”
Karyn muttered something under her breath about Sarah and getting more airheaded, but before Jennifer could ask her to repeat it, he was distracted by the flashy theatrics on stage. As he had done with Jon and Trevor, Fred waved his arms around chanting and to Jennifer’s shock Sarah’s arms fell limply to her sides and she just stood there, zoned out.
“Did tha-“ Jennifer started to whisper to Karyn, but was shushed by the person behind them.
Fred turned waving his arms towards and around Sarah as if elaborately sculpting wet clay. As one the audience gasped as Sarah’s flesh started to shift and stretch. Her breasts deflated and the mass seemed to be drawn in, making her taller and broader shouldered, and filling out her waist so that it was roughly as wide as her hips. Jennifer licked his lips, eyes drawn to the frowning bulge in the crotch of Sarah’s skinny jeans, which were getting skinnier by the second. When it looked as if her, or rather his as it was now clear, clothes would burst, they too started to change, the jeans becoming cotton baggy trousers and the crop top becoming a tee-shirt emblazoned with an anime character. Jon would have been able to identify it as the main character from the anime ‘Blue Exorcist’ but to Jennifer it was just some Japanese cartoon thing, or was it Chinese? He wasn’t sure. With a final flourish, Fred swept a hand across Sarah’s face, thick rimmed geek chic style glasses materialising on his face, and around his head, long hair shrinking Ito a close cropped boys style.
As Sarah still stood vacant, Fred turned to the audience and said, “As with my last two volunteers, let’s see what this young man has to say for himself.” Turning to Sarah he asked “Can you tell us who you are?”
“I’m Sora McMillan,” replied Sarah “Son of Reginald and Susan McMillan.”
“Hmm hmm. And what’s your favourite hobby?”
“Cosplay,” he grinned, eyes still vacant, “Oh and watching anime and manga to research what to cosplay I guess. And making the costumes myself too come to think of it.” There were some mutters and giggles in the audience.
“Ahaaa. And who’s your best friend?”
“Jay Duncan of course.”
“What?” shouted Jay from the audience, which just prompted laughter
Fred chuckled and said “Final question. Who do you have a crush on?” The entire audience leant forwards in anticipation.
“Jennifer Gibson,” he replied, blushing even in his vacant state. Jennifer’s eyes went wide with shock. Sure Sora was cute, especially for a geek, but minutes ago he’d been that bitch Sarah, who was constantly trying to undermine Jennifer and Tricia’s place in the school heirarchy.
“Thank you,” grinned Fred, starting to chant again before snapping his fingers in front of Sora.
“Huh?” The new geek asked, looking around in confusion. He looked down at himself suspiciously, but frowned finding noting out of place.
“Thank you,” bowed Fred as people applauded, “And give a round of applause to..”. He looked back at Sora.
“Sor...ra,” he replied, narrowing his eyes.
“Sora McMillan!”
Sora shook his head and left the stage to return to his seat. As he did so, he passed Jennifer’s row, and gave a quick glance at him before blushing and picking up his pace. As he passed people watched and muttered. They thought it must’ve been a trick, an optical illusion, but the person hurrying down the isle was distinctly not the one who’d stepped on to the stage in their minds. Jennifer heard someone mutter a question about did Fred have doubles hidden backstage that he’d swapped in for the volunteers somehow.
Jennifer and Karyn glanced at each other, both suspecting something else.
“You don’t think-“ began Jennifer, but Karyn shushed him.
“Not here,” she whispered, concerned that the bimbo mind her friend now possessed had just now prompted him to nearly openly talk about the stone in public.
Fred, however, was already calling for his next victim.
