The next morning at homeroom, Jon learned that he would be spending Saturday night with Andrew Stoppard, Tyler Robinson, Frank Simon, Jay Duncan, and Mitchell Webb at Sarah McMillan's house.
Jon didn't know Tyler very well at all, and really only knew Andrew, Frank, and Mitchell as acquaintances. But at least Jay would be a familiar face. Sarah McMillan, though. At least now he and Karyn had something in common to commiserate over, but of all the cheerleaders it had to be her.
For a moment, Jon was tempted to use the stone to change his assignment. Maybe it would be easier with one of the new cheerleaders, maybe someone he was already on good terms with. But that thought faded quickly: all of the sleepovers were going to be basically the same, anyway. Why risk making things worse? There was something that wasn't entirely complete about that logic, but Jon didn't notice.
Karyn, for her part, learned that her own Saturday assignment consisted of five of the biggest, stupidest jocks on the football team, somehow. Steve Farber, Moose Matthews, Randy Goodman, Joe Shula, and Richard Joo. She supposed she should count her stars that Biff Meadows wasn't on her list, but it was a cold comfort.
Those five pillars of stink and sweat all in her house? Sleeping in her bedroom? How was she supposed to manage that? How were they all going to fit into her bedroom? Even if there was magic involved, there was something that felt... threatening about spending the night with those five individuals.
Which is why Karyn asked Jon for the stone. She knew that whatever spell she was under was probably going to control what she wished for, but even if she couldn't use it, knowing that she had it available as an option, just in case, was a comfort. And while Jon implored her not to make any wishes, he did acquiesce. He had put her in this position, after all.
"Do you think you'll be okay at Sarah's place?" Jon asked as he handed over one of the most powerful magical objects in existence.
"I'm not worried about Sarah," the fake smile had returned, if briefly, to Karyn's face. "Sleepover in a huge mansion, what more could I ask for?"
Her expression dropped.
"Ugh, I can't even say anything negative about her now? I just want this weekend over with."
