We emerged from the park hideaway, nervously. Roark and Nyrr had constructed a "mask" out of cuttings from my shirt, before departing with the promise to keep an eye out for us. My oversized T was now more like an off the shoulder crop top, and the ribbons of fabric cut from my shirt had been interwoven with plucked hairs and feathers to make some sort of enchanted headband. I wore it like a bandana, keeping my long hair out of my face. Of course, that's not what the world saw. I had my phone in selfie mode, and gazed at my reflection in the camera. I was undeniably a blue water spirit, but the figure in the phones camera looked almost exactly like my old self. Almost.
"I still look like a girl." I complained as we wove through the overgrown park to the sidewalk.
"Really? I couldn't even tell the difference." She stated wryly.
"I'm serious! This isn't going to work. My face looks softer, my lashes are longer. It's just a mess!" I started flipping through some photos I'd had Karyn take when verifying the glamour really had disguised me. "My hips are way to wide for a guy, and I'm shorter too."
"Look, they said that when you start living as Jon, the veil will smooth things out, the glamour only gets you half of the way there." I grunted in annoyance as I came to a photo of Karyn. As far as the Camera was concerned, she was unchanged. Her natural glamour was literally just her old self.
"Ok, well how am I going to wear my old clothes?" I asked.
She sighed. "I don't know, you could borrow mine I guess. We're about the same size. Or you could just deal with it until we figure out how to make the stone work again."
"Yeah, so Jon shows up to school wearing your clothes, that'll go over great."
"I was just making a suggestion." She stated with a tired tone.
We both went quiet as we passed by a runner, but he hardly even seemed to notice us. We both let out a breath.
"See, he didn't even notice."
"This is still so weird." I muttered
We continued to walk in silence, and silence brought reflection. I knew I'd been an ass, but Karyn had been too, dammit. Not only did she include me in her wish without my permission, but she hadn't exactly been kind either. What the hell is her problem? Calling me a pussy after she got me literally turned into a girl..., but saying no other girls wanted to be around me... That I'd just be alone... Did she really think that?" I scowled deeply. I was hurt, and more than that I was sorry, but couldn't find the words to broach the subject.
We walked in a pensive silence until we reached the fork in the road between our two houses.
"H-hey Kare." I started.
She turned to face me, and I suddenly struggled to give voice to the words that had been swelling up inside me. "I'm... I mean. I wanted to say... Ask..." I shook my head, and decided the street wasn't the place for an odd emotional apology.. "I know it's getting late, but we could hang at my place, and try to figure out the stone." I offered.
"Not tonight." Karyn huffed. "I'm tired from everything, and honestly I need to figure some things out for myself. I'm sure you do too." She concluded sympathetically.
"Yeah..." I agreed reluctantly. "I... uhh... I guess I'll see you tomorrow." I concluded.
She nodded. "Yeah, tomorrow." We stood there for a breath longer, then each went our separate ways.
"H-hey mom, I'm home." I called out sheepishly, knowing full well my delightfully feminine voice sounded nothing like my old tones.
"I told you if you're going to be out late, to text me." She scolded me, then peaked out from the kitchen door. "Dinners in the oven, we'll be... JON?"
My heart leapt. Had she seen through the glamour after all?
"What happened to your shirt?" She asked.
"Oh, yeah... uhhh. I ripped it climbing over a fence at the old park."
She scrambled over to me, and started to inspect my very blue, very female tummy for injury, yet seemed completely unaware that anything was wrong.
"Don't worry, It just caught my shirt, I'm fine."
She put her hands on her hips, and gave me that signature 'mom' look. "I don't know what type of trouble you're getting yourself into, but knock it off." She wielded a wooden stirring spoon like a ruling scepter as she issued her command. "I've got enough on my plate without you giving me constant heart attacks, now go wash up, you look like you've been rolling around in the mud.
I sighed. The glamour worked. At the very least I could wear my glamour long enough to figure out a more permanent solution. I realized that Zoe was staring at me from over the back of the couch.
"What?" I snapped.
"Nothing." She retorted, but continued to stare.
"Ok, well you're being more creepy than usual." I said, tension binding my gut in a knot once again.
"Just wondering why you're wearing a crop top."
Under usual circumstances, I'd fire a shot back, but the explanation for her staring just caused me to laugh in relief.
"Maybe I'm trying a new fashion."
"Some advice, bro, not your style."
I laughed again, and went to my room, feeling like I at least had some control over all of this insanity. I still had a place to sleep, and a family, and well... After all I said, I'd have to make sure I still had a friend tomorrow.
