"I don't know if I can do this" I said as I stared at my reflection. A very pretty teenaged girl stared back at me, though she had a very worried look on her face.
"Why not? You've got this, Anna. You're a natural cheerleader" Sarah soothed.
"Maybe, but I don't know anything. I don't know the routine, or the others. I'm just an outsider.. Plus, what if I start transforming?" I protested
"You're transforming back into my cute little sis. Or least her, all grown up" Sarah gushed.
"But.."
"Mmmm" Sarah paused, concerned as we both heard her phone. She looked over an saw it was Zoe. Instantly I panicked. Sarah scowled as she answered it.
"Can't it wait mom. I'm about to get ready for my final practice..."
"Don't take that tone with me, young lady" Zoe snapped. "What have you done?!"
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked with faux innocence.
"Don't play dumb! I've had multiple people comment to me about about 'kickstarting our program' and praising my 'daughter'. Again. What. Have. You. Done?"
I winced. Its been a long time since I'd seen Zoe that mad. Ironically it probably was when Linda verbally mused about sending Zoe to St Mary's herself to snap her out of her goth phase. Despite everything, i couldn't help but smirk slightly at the memory and the irony that that accursed school definitely de-gothed my sister turned mother.
"Relax, mom. Anna is fine and is with me. She is looking more like her normal self. I even gave her her normal hairstyle.." Sarah said, trying to defuse things. "She'll be back to normal by tonight." I had very mixed feelings about that. I knew if i transformed back into being a girl, into Anna, I'd never regain my old life ever again. A large part of me was perfectly fine with it
"That's not the point!. I don't know about the side effects. Maybe the best way to stop whatever is going on is for you girls not to play. After your stunt why..."
"We're playing Hellstone" I said, speaking up for the first time. It stunned me since it had changed. Definitely a teen girls' voice now.
"You're playing Hellstone? This is not some manipulation?" Zoe demanded.
"No mom" I said, half a second before Sarah could do this same.
"I see... Anna, you're voice has changed...."
"I know. I've been slowly changing all day. I think it was due to what I originally wore at the start of the say. I told you I should had gone to the mall! But, no you insisted I'd dress in Sarah's ugliest clothes!"
Zoe was silent for a few seconds, and I wondered if it was because I threw the blame back at her, whether she knew I was right or for some other reason. Finally, she spoke. "And your feelings about this?"
"A part of me liked my original change, so embarrassing" I said. I knew Zoe would get my meaning, that I wanted to stay a boy as a way to repair the damage the stone caused. I also knew she would know if I reverted back into being Anna, her own chances of gaining her old life was non existent.
"Wait? You liked being a skinny, dorky boy?" Sarah asked, shocked, not caring that Zoe was still listening.
"Yeah. Partly" I said.
"No wonder why you was so sour and didn't want to talk about it. Sorry sis... Hope you're feeling like your normal self."
"I am" I said, horrified that the girl in the mirror was smiling instead of the scowl I thought I had produced. Not good. Sarah turned her attention from me. "Sorry mom, but I need to get Anna prepared for the game. We're got practice Bye mom. See you after the game" Sarah said, ending the call.
"Sure that was smart? Mom seemed mad" I said.
"Don't worry, Anna" Sarah said, seizing my hand, again, and dragging me out to instruct me.
