Jon didn't see Zoe again till after school. He guessed like Karyn, she didn't share any classes with him at the moment. He was worried about Karyn and his Mom...they were both missing and who knew where they'd turn up tomorrow...if anywhere. He knew Zoe had returned...but that wasn't a guarantee. He'd spent much of the day distracted, looking at his fellow classmates for people missing or looking different. He couldn't tell if anyone had changed in the way he was looking for, or if someone was missing. He started kicking himself for not being more observant.
Zoe was waiting for him outside. Like Sarah the day before, she was looking somewhat different. For one, she looked a bit older...and a bit more...like a Black. "Hey...I know you're freaked out about everything...but do you still want to finish the series? I mean...we only have two more episodes...It might get your mind off things."
He paused. He had no idea what they were watching. He and Karyn hadn't been in the middle of a binge watch. It was how he found himself in his living room with Zoe, watching a sci-fi show...one Karyn hadn't been into. Halfway through the first episode, he actually started having fun and joking around with her.
When she went to the bathroom in between episodes, he had time to ruminate on the matter, wondering if he should feel guilty about enjoying himself with Zoe, or that he liked this version of her. It was like Sarah the night before...However their new roles were being chosen...they somehow suited them. He didn't imagine that they would.
Zoe came back from the bathroom and hit play for episode two. "I was thinking," she said. "How about we..."
The front door opened, and Zoe paused. "Oh, hi, Mrs. M," she said. "We were just watching TV."
Jon spun around, for a moment expecting his mother to be standing there instead of...
