Happy was an understatement. The moment mo.. err Zoe saw me, she rushed up to me, and started to hug me. Tightly. "Oh my God...I thought you was gone forever... " Zoe started to sob, as she embraced me. If anything, her grip became tighter.
"Mom. You're hurting me" I whined. wondering exacting why Zoe was so emotive, and relieved she wasn't doing this in front of my friends/irritants. Zoe had never been a hugger, not even after being turned into my mom. Or a kisser; Zoe had kissed me on my head in a way only a relieved parent can. There was something different about her, but I couldn't quite figure it out.
"Oh.. sorry" Zoe said, releasing me slightly. I turned to Sarah, who was staring at us, with a look of both surprise and irritation. It wasn't just the look a preteen has when she is embarrassed though. Sarah almost looked envious.
"Spit it out. Both of you" I demanded, as mom ... Zoe ...took me to the back of her car and started to strap me into the booster. It was a relief to be out of her almost smothering embrace.
"I thought I'd lost you, Anna" mom said. Least her manta this time was more coherent.
"Way to make me feel valued, mom" Sarah said almost sarcastically.
"Sarah Louise Donaldson! We talked about this! You know that I have memories and feelings of you being my daughter, but they aren't as strong as those of Princess here,,," mom said as she had fully strapped me in. The door closing muffled my protests. "Besides its clear you have feelings towards me.. and Anna. You was quite panicked yourself."
"Only because I didn't want to be stuck alone with you, mom" Sarah said stiffly.
I could tell Sarah wasn't quite being truthful. "Liar" I said quietly, childishly sticking my tongue out at her.
"Knock it off" Sarah snapped, before getting an evil gleam in her eye like the old Sarah. In a lower voice, she said, "Like your new nickname, 'Princess'? Mom is not going to let you out of her sight. Lucky you. So what do you want to do first when we get home, Princess? Pretty Princess, or do you want to play with your dolls?"
"Great" I moaned, wondering how this was going to end. Trapped between a sister turned dotting mom, and an enemy turned Jekyll and Hyde sister. Plus I was well aware, I was starting to think very girlish myself. "You don't have to be so mean about everything, sis I'm hoping this is all going to be temporary" I whined.
"Just cut her some slack, Anna. I doubt either of us would be any different if we were in her situation" mom said. It was only then I realized what was different. Mom looked slightly younger, since she was now a mother of two little girls rather than teen ones. 'Least someone got her wish' I though bitterly.
I didn't know to respond, or least give one that wouldn't get me into trouble, so I remained silent until we got home. As soon as I was released from my booster, I rushed into the house and to my room, hoping it had changed. It hadn't; it was the same girlish little girl room it had been. If anything, it looked even more girlish, since it looked like it had been lived in by a very girlish girl. Me. Without thinking, I even did a few ballet poses in front of my mirror, just like I did in the studio. Things were getting out of hand; I was starting to match the room, rather than the room shifting to match me. I even had a slight urge to pick up one of the dolls and start playing with it, and the urge was growing, rather than disappearing. I knew I was changing mentally, and if something was done, and done soon, I'd be stuck as the girlish six year old girl I appeared to be.
"Mom!"
