Class was boring. Mind numbing boring, and not because I had leant it all years previously. It seemed I got all the traditionally 'boring' subjects first, giving me plenty of time to reflect on my situation. Was I stuck as a girl, and one years younger? It seemed to me, the answer was 'yes', since I didn't know how to solve my problem. Somehow, Zoe had been entangled into my situation, and I instinctively knew anything that would improve my situation would make hers worse. At present, Zoe would age to 30 at the bare minimum, which I knew was completely unacceptable to her. She hated the idea of being 'old'. Yet, I knew I would be no different if the roles was reversed, if i had been turned into the mom with an awkward, 14 year old 'daughter'. I was certainly worried that Zoe would do something stupid, like trying to stay young. It'll condemn me to growing up again from toddler. A girl toddler. I winced.
"Something wrong? You're not yourself" Katie asked, concerned.
"Just a lot on my mind" I said truthfully. Five minutes of listening to Katie and Paige had given me a headache, since their conversations were just as mind numbing as class. It actually felt like my head was being stuffed with cotton wool or something, which wad concerning. The stone's magic had clearly 'degothed' Zoe. Would it turn me into some kind of bimbo, some girlish ditz like my two new found 'friends'? I knew I would had even joined into those conversations, swapping the numbness of class for the numbness of fashion and boys, if I didn't have Karyn right in front of me. I knew she was struggling dealing with her own changes, as well as having to 'learn' stuff she knew. All it did was deepen the impression of her being 'stuck up', yet she seemed to want be near me. Another sign of things pushing me into the role of the queen bee, albeit, the good queen.
"I so get that, Annie" Katie said. She paused, then added, "Looking forward to PE?"
I hoped the worry wasn't visible, but apparently it was. Paige smiled and said, "Don't be worried. Katie and Karyn will catch you" It was enough to get Karyn's attention. She turned around and nodded, though she was clearly as confused as me. Catch me?
"See? Even Karyn will protect you" Paige said, giving Karyn a glare that clearly meant, 'Mess up and hurt my friend, you're dead..'
"Don't worry" I squeaked. wanting to defuse things. "So what exactly am i doing?"
Katie grinned, bemused. "You're such a ditz, Annie" she said, earning a smirk from Karyn. "You're the flyer."
My eyes went wide. Flyer? As in cheerleading? I could feel myself starting to panic. It was becoming too much.
"Would you ladies want to share?" a voice asked.
"No, Ms Thompson. We're just trying to calm Anna down" Paige said. The teacher frowned, but her initial demeanor shifted as she could see I was hyperventilating.
"Okay. Miss Black. Can you help take Miss Gibson to the nurse's station.
Karyn, seemingly pleased, nodded, and before I knew it, was out alone in the corridor with her.
