Zoe bit her lip slightly. "We don't have much time. I'll try to get rid of them, but if I can't, just play along and get as much information as possible. Whatever you do, don't let them into my room. i don't want them to 'play' or even know about the stone" Zoe ordered.
"Do you think I'm an idiot? Just don't do something to me" I quietly hissed back. The sight of this new girl-Mikey really rattled me. Obviously some of my initial fears were quite justified, in that Linda had gone all out in the feminine thing, and poor Mikey, without two older siblings, had paid the paid. Not that she knew it; since in this new reality, Mikey was now the older, and assumingly only child of Linda's. From her physique, Mikey was also older than me. Maybe 14 , 15. Zoe's former age. I glanced over to Zoe, now out of the car, and I could see she was tensing slightly. With a sigh only audible to me, I got out of the car, wanting to hide.
"What is it, Linda? You know I have to take Anna to her dance class" Zoe said, her tone that of impatience and one that is time stressed. Girl-Mikey had a slight smirk on her face as she saw me, which had me worried.
"You know Marie and I don't come to Lake Point much anymore..." Linda started.
Okay good. So girl-Mikey must be Marie in this reality and she and Linda ... urgh real mom, don't live in Lake Point any more...
"... and since we in the area, I wanted to say hi. Why are you so rushed, anyway?" Linda asked.
"I told you that Anna was injured during cheerleading" Zoe said, not moving from outside the car.
"So you're allowing Anna to go to ballet injured?" Linda asked. I saw Zoe tense even more; I knew Zoe enough to know that she felt she was being judged.
"It was only precautional. You know how much Anna likes ballet and how cautious St Mary's is" Zoe said defensively.
Everyone's reactions varied. Linda smiled slightly, breaking the tension between herself and Zoe. Zoe also smiled, though I knew it was for much different reasons. I was horrified. i didn't want to do ballet. assuming reality had me even in a class. Mikey.. no Marie had the worst reaction. She snickered.
"I can't believe you're still doing ballet, Annie. Only little girls do ballet..." Marie said, her voice girly and reminding me a lot of Sarah and her friends. Not a good sign; the old Mikey may had been a brat and a general pain to be around, but this new Marie seemed to be a bitch. I was also worried about her words, since I did not want to be any younger.
"Marie!" Linda scolded, causing me to smile slightly.. She paused, as if in thought. "Zoe. Sorry. I know you're busy. Why don't I take Anna and we can catch up properly over dinner." I glanced over to Zoe. No...
Zoe smiled slightly. "Sounds like a good plan" she said, much to my horror. My horror deepened as I realized it was happening right now. Marie led me to the back of Linda's car, giving me a closer look of my brother turned girl-cousin.. Marie was everything I was not. She was tall and curvy, where I was very short, and not well developed. She caught me, and said in an almost kindly voice, "Don't worry, Annie. You'll start developing soon." She winked, before getting into the front. I was confused at Marie's behavior. bitch one second, and a decent, or at least to her perspective, person the next. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably which quickly deepened when a ballet skirt materialized around my leotard.
"Aunt Linda" I said unsteadily, and annoyed that words came as naturally as 'mom' did for Zoe.
"What is it, sweetie?" Linda asked.
I winced, but unnoticed. "Can you see anything strange?"
