coming home to kiss away night

[_dawnie_]

Let's see, status report for Dawn's week:

-- Sister still lost in the past but okay as far as I know.

-- Home life: increasingly lax with not much supervision. I can deal with that. Everyone's still being all researchy and working on how to get everyone back where they should be, and I'm wondering if there isn't something to what Jordy told me

Comments

[_dawnie_]

"Oh, God. More supernatural wonk?" I stop short, looking at her. I shouldn't be surprised. Is there ever any other kind of wonk around here?

I frown. "What did she say?"

[_janice_]

Better give her the abridged version. "It's hard to describe...she started out gushing about Jordy, but in that weird Shakespeare-speak like Eric's been spouting. Then she...well, it's like she realized how she was talking was strange, and she said something about being confused and things feeling wrong."

I sigh and give her a half-smile. "By the end she was back to sounding like the Bard, like she'd never admitted something was not quite right."

[_dawnie_]

"Shakespeare, like the play, right? I wonder if they're just trying to get into character?"

I feel like I'm just missing something that should be easy to figure out.

[_janice_]

"That's what I thought at first. Eric I thought was just being a big jerk, but Sophie and Jordy...and then Sophie even noticed that she was doing it, but seemed confused why." I shake my head. She doesn't seem like she's seen the same pattern I have--maybe I'm imagining it after all.

"I dunno, maybe I'm the one who's nuts." I push through the main school doors to the parking lot. "Can't wait until this week's over."

[_dawnie_]

"Me either," I say, smiling to myself. I stretch, raising my arms above my head briefly as we step outside. "And I don't think you're nuts! You seem pretty normal compared to everyone else we hang out with."

[_janice_]

I glance at her from the corner of my eye. Uh huh, I'm real normal. Kinda the last thing I've been feeling all week.

I shrug. "Until last week, I would've given the normal award to Sophie. Eh, maybe it'll all blow over and people will start acting like themselves. Maybe they're just being weird 'cause they're in loooove!" I suggest, making my voice deliberately goofy. Except I know that's not it, but I can't explain it to Dawn. She'll just have to witness it herself.

"So, any plans this weekend? Or is everything at home still all tense and stuff?"

[_dawnie_]

Um, yeah, I'm going to spend the night with my boyfriend. You?

"Uh. Just stuff." I shrug. "Things at home are okay. Everyone's all researchy and preoccupied, thus they don't have time to boss the teenager around." I smile at her. "That's always a good thing."

[_janice_]

"Sounds nice, I guess," I say. I can't believe she can be so calm with all the weirdness in her life. Must be nice.

"I have to work a lot of the weekend, plus I signed up for scenery stuff on Saturday, plus a physics test to study for. Ugh, no wonder I have no social life. How'm I supposed to ever get a date?"

[_dawnie_]

"Um, date someone from the video store?" I suggest. We begin our walk toward home. "I'm off the whole weekend. Things are slow at Enchanted Forest just lately."

No tests either. I find myself very glad I'm not taking Physics.

[_janice_]

I roll my eyes. "You haven't actually met anyone I work with, have you? All a bunch of total geeks. I mean, complete with blisters on their thumbs from PS2 and Nintendo. Nice guys, but definitely not date material."

I see my turn just ahead, and hitch my backpack up higher on my shoulder. "Lucky you. I'd kill for a couple of days to just veg out." Yeah, and I'd end up writing novels in my journal trying to figure everything out. Busy might just be good.

[_dawnie_]

"Maybe some hottie will come in there and sweep you off your feet, though," I say. "You never know."

I turn toward my house. "Well, my English homework awaits. Seeya at school tomorrow!"

[_janice_]

"Seeya Dawn!"

I wave, then turn the corner and trudge the half block to my house. I'm thinking the entire evening locked in my room with the computer off would be good.