"...okay, it's ready." Athena sighed over the phone. "Just finished the prep for my first set of incantations. "I have to admit Zoe, this is definitely one of the freakiest instances of haywire magic I've heard about. And I've seen demons."
Zoe breathed a huge sigh of relief. "You're amazing, Athena. How did you already whip something up?"
"Well, it's not really a complete spell. It's meant for emergency situations, when reality needs to be stabilized. So it's definitely not going to undo all the aspects of the wish. But because you also made a wish that competes with the one your little brother made, this should help the supernatural realm 'favor' your will over his, in a sense. But ultimately, it's going to depend on the will of the main target. You're sure that Esme- er, Jon- wants nothing to do with his new reality?
"100%. I mean, he was in tears when we were talking earlier."
"Alright." Athena said, preparing to activate her spell. Because if she's wrong...Mikey's will could end up taking full control, without anyone able to stop him...
Meanwhile, as if by fate, the Gibson matriarch had been about to head out for work, when she noticed Esme's room, door wide open. Unfortunately, in Jon's frustration, he had thrown a few pieces of his skimpy clothes on the ground while searching for something modest. And it was this mess that had caught his mother's attention. She sighed. "Oh Esme...you're usually better than this..."
As she bent down to pick up a thin piece of fabric that barely met the legal definition of a skirt, she saw something catch her eye under the bed. Sunlight from the window reflected off of what looked to be some kind of reddish stone. Knowing how free-spirited her daughter was, her first assumption was that it was a vibrator of some sort, though it didn't look to be the right shape or size. Picking up the stone, she shook her head, thinking out loud. "Goodness. I know we're lax with you honey, but I wish you'd just keep this with you instead of adding to the mess in your room..."
A quick flash of light stunned her. To Mrs. Gibson, she had got some sunlight in her eye, dropped the stone in shock, and now couldn't find it. Another sigh left her lips before abandoning her search and heading off to work.
Jon felt his heart quicken at the excitement of having such a nice car. He never really considered up until now that what Mikey considered "cool" could actually align with his own interests as an older teen. I mean, when I was 13, I thought about making a lot of money and being well-liked by everyone. And I still want that...
In some ways it also bothered him how much Esme got away with. I'm practically allowed to walk around naked, and the worst I get is a slap on the wrist! And how did they pay for this car and my education anyway? Jon shook his head. Maybe girls just have it easier. Considering that Esme was meant to be more easy-going and compliant compared to Zoe, it made sense that they'd favor her.
"Ugh," Jon said aloud, which to everyone in the car came out as a near moan, grabbing the boys attention. He did his best to hide his blush, embarassed at how his body acted separate from his own desires. Hold it together, Jon. Who knows what else this wish has in store? He definitely did not want to be stuck as a woman. Plus, he had no idea how his relationship with Karyn was affected after all this. She would presumably still be in high school while Esme was in college, but what about beforehand? Were they ever friends in this reality? A pang of deep loneliness hit him. He muttered under his breath:
"I wish Karyn was here with me." And to his horror, he felt that now-too-familiar stunning of his eyes, a wish about to be manifested into reality by that cursed stone. The stone that was supposed to be in his bed, but was now sure of its presence in his left jean pocket due to its warmth. What have I done?!
