"Jade?" He was jolted from thinking by someone else calling for him.
"What?"
"Ready to go?" He realized this person must be his ride home. He was another cheerleader, with dark skin, long frizzy hair and a well-toned physique. He didn't quite recognize him; then again, he hadn't quite recognized many people in the last three days.
"I guess I am if you are."
The other male escorted him toward the parking lot. "You all right? We've barely talked in the last few days," he said.
"I've had a lot on my mind," Jade said. "All of us have."
"With what? You and Ash?" the other boy teased. "I mean, you being who you are and her being who she is. I'd be more surprised if you were dating...a nerd or something."
"I gotta admit, it's been a bit since I dated," Jade replied with a giggle.
"Not for lack of trying on the part of the female student body." Jade blushed at the compliment and realized he had no idea who this even was. He furiously swiped through his phone in search of a text message that might explain things, and he found one, from a Keesha Towers, which confirmed he was picking him up.
"I just don't get why us Duncan boys have...a reputation. My little brother is 10. And I can already tell he's gonna be like me."
"Well, you're a bombshell! Every single boy on that squad is jealous of you, and they should be!"
"Don't you start now," Jade said. "If I wasn't a bombshell, would people still be jealous of me?"
"Are you delusional or something?" Keesha said with a tone of surprise to his voice. "You're thinking too deep, boy. Pull back, recognize who you are and what Goddess gave you, and be thankful."
Just as Jade was going to say something, the car pulled to a stop. "We're here."
"Thanks for the ride, Keesha," Jade sighed. He was thinking. A lot. He grabbed his duffel bag and backpack from the trunk and headed inside his home.
"Hey there, Jade," a voice called out. It sounded...older. He'd heard Diamond's voice, and that wasn't it.
"Crystal!? I didn't know you were home!"
"How would you...I didn't know I'd be here, either." This was Jade's first look at his older brother, and he understood just why "Duncan boys" had a reputation. He was just as stunning: the long hair, the wide hips, the toned body. If he'd ever seen a girl like this prior to the wish, Jay would not have known what to do. And now, Jade thought, he's my brother.
"I don't have any classes this weekend, so I figured I'd come down here and get some quiet. When you have people following you around on Instagram and Snapchat, like...it's good to relax, you know?"
"Yeah yeah," Jade said attempting to fake understanding. "It's more tiring than people think, I bet."
"Hey Jade," he heard someone call from the upstairs balcony. He turned to see a man in his mid-forties who looked like he hadn't aged much in two decades, wearing a sparkly red top and short black skirt. From what little time he'd spent at home since Tuesday, he knew this was his dad Rubi, who had been some sort of dancer once upon a time.
"Oh hey Dad... What's up?"
"Not much, really. Was trying on outfits for this gala I'm going to on Saturday," he explained. "You'll be on that date, right?"
Jade nodded.
"Big brother going on a date...!" His 10-year-old brother Diamond came into the room, wearing a rather glittery shirt and yoga pants. "That sounds so dreamy..." For Jade, who'd been an only child prior to the wish, just having siblings was an adjustment, especially one like Diamond. I must have been like him once, he thought. "You OK?"
"What's up?"
"You look like you're thinking a lot."
"Well, dates are stressful, Diamond. You have to prepare and plan and get ready, all to impress a girl! I think in a few years, once you come of age, you might understand."
"It's definitely not easy," Crystal added. "It's so exciting but so frustrating."
"How are my boys?" the three heard a woman shout from upstairs. Soon, Sami Duncan emerged, wearing a suit, tie and pants. As Jade had learned during the week, the Duncan Corporation was one of the largest employers in town, thanks to its line of enterprise security products.
"We're good...you?"
"Well, Duncan Corporation is making more money than ever. When companies get scared of cyber attacks, we love it because their money runs straight for our coffers." She gave off a confident little chuckle. "How's the cheer squad doing?"
"Pretty good...we were on the sidelines at a wrestling meet today, and we have our big regional meet coming up next weekend, so things are starting to kick into high gear!"
"You're just like your father..."
