Jon didn't have any other classes with Sarah, but each of his remaining classes of the day included at least one of the other popular girls. And, despite himself, Jon found himself gravitating into their orbit. Chatting with them still felt like such a natural thing to do, and their conversations were surprisingly engaging, even if they were on topics he didn't usually discuss. At least once in each class period, the teacher had to scold Jon and at least one of his new friends for being disruptive.
Jon had never been reprimanded in that way before. He'd never been a disruptive kid. But now he just couldn't help it.
And as the last class ended, Jon felt a wave of relief wash through him. Without any of the popular girls around, he'd be able to meet back up with Karyn and figure out what to do about both of their situations.
At least, that was his plan.
"Hey, a bunch of us girls are meeting up at Sarah's house after class," Amber gushed to Jon as they walked out of Ms. English's Spanish class. "You have to come join us."
Jon wanted to say no. He needed to say no. But saying no didn't feel like a natural part of this conversation. "Oh, I'd love to! But are you sure Sarah won't mind?" Jon held his breath a moment as he instinctively brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. He hadn't meant to blurt that out, but the way he'd phrased his reply just invited Amber to say something about Sarah that he'd have to be better at.
"Oh, don't worry," came Amber's reply. "You're one of us!"
Very aware of the bullet he'd just dodged, Jon was almost relieved to follow Amber to her car for a drive over to Sarah's house.
A part of Jon wanted to be impressed when he stepped out of Amber's car and took in the sight of the McMillan mansion for the first time. But another part of him felt like he'd been there before, that coming here was a normal occurrence for him. And yet a third part, a part that Jon didn't really want to dwell on too much, felt an even deeper connection to this property. For that part, it almost felt like home.
But as more cars pulled up, and more girls filled the McMillan driveway, Jon became swept up in the conversation once again, and then swept into the foyer along with the crowd of chattering teenagers.
There was a charcuterie board the size of a coffee table. There was a woman in a caterer's outfit making mocktails behind a wet bar. There were sofas and chairs and a massive screen playing music videos. And the room was filled with just about every popular girl Jon knew from school. Not just cheerleaders, but class representatives and valedictorian candidates. The entire volleyball and softball teams were there. Yearbook club, drama club, debate club. Any girl who was deemed important in any way to the social hierarchy of Lake Point High School was in attendance.
Jon wanted to be nervous, wanted to be a wallflower, but once again he was compelled to participate. None of the popular girls questioned by one single unpopular boy was in attendance. Jon was treated just like any of the other girls.
So once again, he leaned in to that. "Oh, can I do your hair?" Jon whispered conspiratorially to Mina Clavero, star pitcher of Lake Point High School's softball team.
The young athlete took one look at Jon's own hair, which was half-up, half-down, curled, and braided, and just nodded with glee in her eyes.
The two ran off to the guest bathroom, which was apportioned more like a professional dressing room, and Jon got to work. He kept on chatting with Mina like he had with any of the other girls, but now he could focus the conversation on hair care and keep things one-on-one, without the risk of overhearing some other conversation, or being ambushed by some random girl who wanted to tell him something.
And by the time Mina's hair was done, there were another three girls waiting to get their own hair done up. Jon took a deep breath and wiped his brow, and then he started on the next girl's hair.
About one hour and a dozen girls later, Jon was starting to feel genuinely comfortable. He was doing something he was good at (even if he was only good at it because of magic), and he was a part of this big event, and a part of this group of girls. And with his slightly more feminine voice, and his much more feminine hair, and his ability to talk on the same wavelength as all the popular girls, it was really starting to feel like it was seamless because he belonged, and not because he was being forced to act more naturally than Sarah. And he'd almost forgotten the dangers of potentially overhearing someone talk about Sarah, when a girl rushed into the guest bathroom.
"Everything's moving to the back patio. Sarah says there's a surprise!"
