Jon found himself lying on his bed looking up at the ceiling. What continued to confuse him was how neatly people seemed to fit into their new roles.
Sarah as his sister, Kyla as his mom, Zoe as his friend.
They all seemed to be...disturbingly better for it. Sarah was still something of a brat, but he could see redeeming qualities in her personality. Kyla made a pretty good mom from what he'd seen so far. And Zoe...had a lot more in common with him, and seemed to have her temper in check.
At least that was comforting if anyone returned, hopefully it would be in a good state. But not the one he wanted them to be in. He really wanted everything to go back to normal. But what even was normal? Wishes weren't reversible...but were actions done by these workers? That would make them, possibly reversible. But he still thought the workers were likely a result of a wish...so... It made his head hurt.
Sarah barged in...
"Couldn't you knock?" He asked.
"What, were you doing something you didn't want anyone to see? Except lying there at 9PM. Are you sick or something?"
"What do you want?" he asked her.
"Mom is on my case again about my grades. She said Zoe wanted to tutor me, but she thought I'd rather have a stranger."
He leaned up and looked at her. "And you'd rather have Zoe?" He asked, surprised.
Sarah sat in his desk chair. "Look, I give you two a hard time, but you're my dorky big brother and she's your girlfriend. I'm sort of supposed to."
"Zoe is not my..."
Sarah brushed it away. "Yeah, right. You're just friends. Keep saying it till you believe it. I don't...hate her. And she's probably a lot more fun than whatever I'd get stuck with if Mom gets one through the school."
"What do you need me for then?"
She shrugged. "I want to make sure you are okay with it."
"You...care if I'm okay with it?" He said, unable to avoid sounding surprised.
Sarah looked at him. And for a moment, he almost forgot this was the same girl who had been giving him looks of disdain since Freshman year. There was the same brattiness he'd seen from Sarah McMillan, but...it seemed like there was more in addition. "You want me to say it again...I care about you....just don't tell anyone. I have a reputation. Well, I am working on one."
"Sure...fine."
"Great. Because if I make Mom happy maybe I can hang out with my friends without getting the Inquisition when I get home." She paused suddenly. "Why are you lying there?" She asked, suddenly thinking more about what she'd walked in on.
"You ever feel like the whole world is changing around you, and you don't know what to do about it?" Jon asked her.
Sarah looked at him. "Just ask Zoe on a date already," she said, before heading toward the door. She paused after opening it, turning around. "Or get more than one friend..."
"I have other friends..." Jon protested.
"Then why is Zoe always around?" Sarah said, before closing the door.
Jon reached into the hiding place where he'd put the stone. "This is all your fault," he mumbled before putting it back.
