At first, I was confused, assuming that Zoe was stunned seeing me dressed so femininely, even though I knew she knew i would have had little choice in the matter. Then I remembered, that the last time she saw me was before my regression. I was stunned; everyone else didn't notice, even if they were actually with me. How could Zoe see it, when everyone else could not? How could I demand answers without everyone thinking I had gone crazy? Of course, both Linda and Marie was there, and saw Zoe's confusion. and naturally assumed it had to do with my outfit. Compared to everyone else, I was grossly overdressed.
"What happened?" Zoe demanded, a slight edge to her voice.
"Marie watched Anna while I got her a new outfit. Like it?" Linda replied, with an edge to her own voice. Whatever changes that had happened between those two, their tensions still remained. It then made sense to me. Even though it was clear that Linda did care about me, and played the part of a dotting aunt that didn't see her niece as often as she liked, I was also a pawn in their squabble and Linda had shown up Zoe in turning me into a little princess. I was glad Zoe turned up for 'dinner', since this was a rabbit hole I didn't want to fall into. Linda adored me, and hated Zoe's life choices. Just like the old reality.. "I wanted to show Anna how pretty she is, and not do what you did."
"What I did?" Zoe demanded, sounding coy.
"Zoe's reaction to growing up. She actually when goth for a while. Arrrgh" Linda complained. I looked around for reactions. Marie rolled her eyes; seemingly this conversation has happened before, least to her memories. As for Zoe, her face was blank, though I knew she would have been pleased that some parts of her old life did happen.
"Linda" Zoe spat out, but Marie interrupted, stopping the fight before it could really take off. She had been rolling her eyes for a while, and had enough. "Mom. Aunt Zoe. I'd prefer to go shopping or have something to eat than watch you two deal with your unresolved childhood issues. Want to come with me, Annie?" I knew Marie's new teenaged girl self would have the whole 'mom, you're embarrassing me' speech much later.
I paused, not wanting to do anything, but Linda saved me. "Sorry. I'll get us a table." We ate, but it was very uncomfortable. Especially with Linda 'judging' Zoe's for my choice of food, even though if I had been alone, there would had been no problem. I was glad to finish, but it wasn't until Zoe and I were back in her car that I could finally speak
"That woman makes me so angry." Zoe snapped the second we were in the car. and I was strapped, unfortunately, into another booster seat.
"Seriously? The first thing you say is about Linda. What about me? No comment about how your 'daughter' changed" I demanded.
"What? That you're one pinafore away from playing Alice" Zoe said with a smirk.
"Knock it off, mom! I know you can perceive my age change and that you're awfully calm with it! Did you have anything to do with it? You didn't use the stone? Did you?"
Zoe paused. "No."
