Jon managed to collect himself, then looked up to see Karyn's worried expression. No words, just body language. Jon could tell that something was wrong, but what?
Then it dawned on him: Sarah was in front of him. She was closer to Karyn. So this must be Sarah's Karyn, and that's why she was worried. This Karyn didn't like Jon. Of course this Karyn didn't like Jon. But he could fix that by taking two steps forward. Just two steps. And so confidently, smilingly, Jon stepped forward so that he was even with Sarah. And then he stepped forward again, so that he was ahead of her.
And the skies darkened around him.
Karyn's expression soured from panic to disgust. Every cheerleader around her was looking at him as though he was an intruder in their midst, an unwelcome disturbance to their morning.
Jon's smile disappeared instantly.
"You can wear new clothes on the outside, Jon." Karyn's voice was a low growl, an angry growl. A growl that said 'I am a tiger, and if you take one step closer I will eat your face.' "But you're still the same disgusting little worm on the inside."
Jon's heart sank, and he took half a step backwards as he looked from face to face for any sign of salvation. But it was a wall of scorn. The most beautiful faces in the school, united in ugly malice.
Except for one.
Sarah McMillan put a comforting hand on Jon's shoulder, then stepped around him to take charge of the moment. And in that instant, the clouds parted and sunlight returned to the faces of the assembled cheerleaders.
"I think maybe he's still a bit nervous," Sarah explained Jon's frightened reaction without seeming to acknowledge the angry wall that had inspired it. "Showing him off in front of all of you at once, first thing out the gate, might have been a bit much." Sarah turned to face Jon, a warm smile on her face that seemed to inspire even warmer smiles from the girls around her. "You should head off to class, let us girls have some time to chat. There will be plenty of time to show you off later."
Jon took a hesitant step backwards, his mood suddenly incongruous with the welcoming aura of the now-friendly cheerleaders. But he caught Karyn's eye before he turned around, and she managed to mouth two words to him before she was engulfed in a tidal wave of squealing girls begging her for details on who this Jon guy was, and if he'd always been that cute, and had they kissed yet, and where was he taking her on a date. Just two words between them before they'd be cut off for the morning, and possibly for the rest of their lives. Two words that told Jon everything he'd feared:
"It's backwards."
The curse was backwards. She was Jon's Karyn around Sarah, and she was Sarah's Karyn around Jon.
So a wave of hopelessness overcame Jon as he finally did turn and retreat back to the school building. How could he get Karyn fixed if they couldn't even communicate? How was he supposed to date a girl that hated him the moment he got close? What torture must Karyn be going through?
But at least Karyn was surrounded by her new friends. As Jon approached his locker, he had never felt more alone in his life.
