"This day keeps getting worse" I muttered under my breath, as i shifted uncomfortably in my car seat. Although my new dress was not as overtly 'princess' as Marie's, it felt like it to me.
"What was that, Anna?" Linda asked.
"She wished her dress was more like mine!" Marie yelled excitedly as she stared proudly at her white gloved hands. I winced; the novelty of knowing she was my magically changed brother had worn off, and now the embarrassment had set in. I didn't relish the idea or going around the mall's food area with an eight year old, brunette version of Princess Peach. Least one mercy was my own didn't have gloves, or puffy sleeves. It did have a full skirt, and was just as pink.
"I don't think so, Marie" Linda said.
"I said I feel like I'm dressed for prom" I lied, though the feeling was partly true. "Are you sure..."
"Of course, Anna. You are pretty, and you're my favorite niece" Linda gushed, as I blushed slightly. I knew that i did look pretty, but I also knew I was now a pawn in Linda's game. I knew the magic that had transformed us had not killed Linda and Zoe's antagonistic relationship and that Linda would want to pretty up Zoe's daughter, me, just to show up the former goth, whilst genuinely wanting a good relationship with me, and being the perfect doting aunt. All this magic was giving me a headache.
"She is your only niece" Marie said, not getting it. I didn't feel like correcting her, so sat in my seat, silent, pretending to play with my phone. Once at the mall, I immediately got out, and nearly fell over, not used to my new pink heels. So much for me rushing ahead.
"Anna. What's wrong?" Linda asked, concerned.
"I stepped into the only pothole" I whined, lying. I took another, smaller and daintier step and found I could balance better. Great... I didn't know which was more embarrassing. Walking to the restaurant besides an excitable, and oblivious Marie, or that I looked and felt very much like the girly 14 year old girl that the stone turned me into. Zoe was waiting for us, and I blushed even more, since she could perceive my changes. She took one look at me, then at Marie and muttered in shock, "What the fuck?" It was just loud enough for me, and Linda to hear.
"Nice to see you too, Zoe" Linda said in a soft, yet disapproving manner. "Still haven't grown out of that angry, ugly goth.."
"Don't lecture me, Linda" Zoe hissed as she eyed me. It was uncomfortable to see the two older women having a desecrate, yet forceful exchange. More disturbingly, Zoe had changed during my dance class, and from the way she stood, I knew she was fully aware of it, too. The most obvious change was that Zoe had gained a few pounds, becoming plumper like Linda, and that she had added a few years, to the point she was starting to look like my mother, rather than an older sister. She was also wearing a professional looking pair of glasses, and a pair of black heels. The only heels she had ever worn in her life were her old goth boots. I turned and headed for the bathroom. Partly to escape, and partly because my body needed to go. The transformation must had affected me in that way. Unsurprisingly, Zoe joined me a minute later.
:Let me guess, Linda?" Zoe said, as she eyed my clothes.
"Yes. What the fuck was that, 'mom'?"
:"Language, miss. You don't want that phyco-bitch patronizing you too"
"What happened to you!? I thought I was going to end up like Marie"
"I could do that to you, Anna. Leaving you as a cute little girl with... her"
"that is nice of you' I growled, torn between both gratitude and sarcasm. "But you did do something. What did you do, 'mom'?"
