Mirror Changed – Chapter 06
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~Jayde~
Back at work again. As usual. Another boring Friday daytime shift appeasing customers and ignoring my surly manager.
Becky wasn’t on shift today, which was probably a good thing as she had been acting a bit weird towards me ever since the party. I was sure that she had just as good a time there without me that she would have had if I had stayed.
More so in fact, she probably would have been just plain annoyed with me in only a few minutes if I had stayed.
“Your meal will be out shortly.” I told an obstinate and slightly obese woman.
“Well, it had better be.”
I honestly never understood why some of these fast food buffalo’s, what we called irate heavyset customers, thought that being rude would get them better service. What it actually did was incentivize us wage slaves into fucking around with their order.
A few customers like her later plus one that was blessedly kind and I was now watching the clock like a hawk. I could swear that it had moved backwards by at least five minutes from the last time I had looked at it.
“Any time now…” I quietly internalized.
Sometime later I was almost ready to scream when Suzi walked in, a skateboard under her arm. Finally, something interesting. I glanced back at the clock… Somehow an hour had now passed between that last look and now. So all I had to do now was suffer through the last of the line and then the usual end of shift annoyance with Don. I think he lived here, I know that he was almost always onshift when I was.
Three customers left. One was a family of five though. Surprisingly the rugrats were well behaved and the ordering went quickly. That was one more for my new customer Bingo Card. We started it up again this week after a particularly foul Jerry Springer candidate had reared his ugly head. All of us were surprised he hadn’t managed a Darwin Award yet when he came through.
So far Don wasn’t aware of the pool. Yet. We were working extra hard on keeping it that way.
The last customer in my line had just finished paying as Suzi stood up from whatever she had been doing on her phone. She got into my line so that she’d be my final person of my shift. I was about to close the register when she held her hand up.
“Hold on there Tiger.”
Great, she was in one of her Mary Jane persona’s today. The red haired wig looked vibrant, its long tresses almost down to her waist. I had watched several of the female customers eyeballing her with envy.
Suzi also knew my personal feelings on this particular comic women in Spider Man’s life. That in combination with her normal spunky attitude meant I was going to be on both a hormonal and emotional rollercoaster tonight.
“Lemme guess, you got a hot date tonight and wanted to get a small bite in first before you hit the bar?”
“Not on your life. Dating is sooo last decade. Tonight is for fun with friends.” She cocked her hips to one side and flipped her hair back with the opposite hand.
Have to say to myself that she looked amazing in the dark green top and black pants. Say it inwardly only as I was afraid of what I would say if I mae an attempt to compliment her out loud.
“So, what can I do for you?”
Lame, lame, lame, I was so lame. God I just wanted to smack myself on the forehead.
Suzi put a finger to her lips and gently tapped it for a bit. I know she knew what she was doing to me. So I just squirmed in silence.
“So many dirty ideas with that one Champ.” She spun around and parked her butt up against the counter so she could lean back on both arms, which drove me crazier still. “However, I think it’s best if we stay pro’s here ya’ know. So order me up a few meals. We’re off to Dave’s once they’re ready.”
“That’s it?” I couldn’t hold the relief… and disappointment out of my voice. Much to my dismay. “I mean, well, of course. I’ll get those ready Suzi.”
“Now ya know I’m Mary Jane right now Tiger.” She patted my cheek, much like someone would pet a puppy on the head. “So get that ready.” She got up and bounced away. “And Jayde?”
“Yes?” I almost squeeked.
“Don’t Change.”
Sigh….
It didn’t take long for the meals to be prepared. Once clocked out we headed to the bus station. Her teasing nature was at the back of my mind all the way over to David’s. Of course she continued to do so the entire way over to our friends. Regardless of the fact that she only carried her board and I carried the meals and drinks.
Outside the house Dave was leaning up against the old red bricks smoking a cherry pipe he pulled out every now and then. Suzi sauntered up, still in character, and saucily took the pipe from a wickedly grinning David. She took a good drag on it, the glowing embers in the bowl brightening as more air flowed through them. A couple puffs later and she handed it back, a look of disappointment on her face.
“Sorry, plain old Georgian Tobacco.”
“And here I was hoping that I would actually pull off Mary Jane smoking some Marry Jane.” She pouted.
David grinned while I laughed at her shenanigans. “so, what’s on the Xbox tonight?”
“Depends on whether you brought me some good steak burritos or crappy hamburger fart fests.”
“Mmmm… Both?”
He grabbed the bag from me and headed inside, grumbling about worthless junk food products and ruining perfectly good meat.
By the time Suzi and I had made it in David had the food divvied out into three distinct piles. The biggest one of course in front of his customary spot. I went to sit down at one of the other piles only to have Dave growl.
“Yours is over there.”
I sat at the last pile, Suzi would end up in between us.
“Why this one?”
“Because all the hamburger and bean farts are there.”
Suzi sat down at her designated spot. “And these?”
“Chicken.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Why?”
“Because I like breasts and thighs next to me?” He said with a lecherous expression.
"PIG!" Suzi squealed in mock anger as she hit at him with a throw pillow. “Chauvinistic Pig!”
David put down the burrito he had been about to bite into and proceeded to defend himself against whirlwind Suzi. Likely he was attempting to rough house her into submission. Except that they ended up with Suzi straddling his stomach and Dave halfway off the couch at an odd angle. Her Mary Jane wig askew and no longer looking nearly as real.
“Damn it. It took Forever to get that to sit right.” She complained as she threw it off her head.
Unfortunately it ended right up on top of my head. I reached up to pull it off only to hear Suzi squeal again.
“It’s Perfect!”
Before I knew it I had been tackled by a very energized and peppy bundle of cosplayer. I could only partially see as she maneuvered me around like a rag doll. I felt her tug on my shirt and I attempted to keep it on, but somehow she managed to switch it with a different one while I was partially blinded by wig and my hyper friend.
Finally, wig on head and a different shirt on I was able to properly see my two tormenters.
Suzi was wearing my shirt, how and when that happened I had no clue. Which meant that I was wearing hers. I did NOT want to verify this.
“She really fills it out doesn’t she.” David stated to Suzi from where he stood.
“Damn it.” I reached up to take off the wig.
Only to have Suzi stop me. “Nope, you are Magical Princess Jayde now.” She pulled me down on the seat right next to her, our thighs touching. “Let’s show Dave what a pair of Princesses can do!”
I heard a click and had to blink a couple of times from a flashbulb.
“You two are So cute together!” Dave stated as he lowered an actual camera.
“Oh! Look Dave! She’s turning as red as her hair!”
“Damnit Suzi! You know I’ve been having a bad week.” I was doing my best to hold back tears now, hands were fisted on my knees and eyes burning.
She settled down a little bit. “That’s part of why we’re here.” She put her hand on mine. Which did nothing to lower my blood pressure but did change some of the reason for its rise. “You know, let out some steam. Let our hair down… well or off. You know, to just Be and not to worry.”
“So how bad a week has it been?” David put in.
“I may be having a bit of a break down.” I told them. I wasn’t sure why I was opening up, but it did feel good to do so.
“The dreams then?” Suzi asked.
I nodded in response. “Yeah. Strange thing is that they weren’t even that bizarre. Just, well, very real. A little too real in fact.” I looked over at Suzi. “Can I take off the wig please? It’s hitting a little too close to home right now.”
David’s wicked grin bore me some concern, but Suzi took the wig from me before he could get up to much more. His smile faded and so he sat down on the couch on the other side of Suzi. “Well, that’s no fun. Now I only have a Princess and her puppy to tease.”
“HEY!”
“C’mon Jayde. You are totally Suzi’s little puppy dog. What with the way you are always following her around.”
“Leave him alone David.”
“Arf arf.”
Her glare would have done Medusa proud. Of course having my friend defend me like that didn’t exactly help me out any regarding my self esteem.
“So, you’re still seeing visions?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly. Just the one.”
“The girl?” Suzi said to which I nodded. “So how much of her have you seen?”
“What? I’m not like that!” I said, aghast.
“Oh, come on, she’s just an imagination. Why haven’t you looked all the way?”
Blushing again. Great. Another superpower, the ability to blush at the drop of a comment. “Of course I haven’t looked all the way. That’d be… I don’t know…. Wouldn’t I be like violating her or something? It just doesn’t feel right looking at ‘Her’ body like she was on display or… yeah…” I was rambling but could not help myself.
“I know I would check it out if I was you. It’s not everyone that can just look in on themselves you know.” Suzi paused then looked at me mischievously. I love that look but right now it scared me. “What does she look like? Big tits? Small? Flat tummy? I love flat stomach’s, they’re pretty damned sexy.”
“Small breasts I guess- Wait! No, I’m not going to discuss ‘Her’ like a piece of meat.”
Suzi smirked. “No need to be such a Princess about it.”
Now I was past embarrassed and was beginning to get annoyed. These were my friends, but still I was having a crisis and Suzi was just making light of it.
Strangely David had been silent during this whole thing. Normally he’d be right in there with the digs. I wasn’t going to stick around though. I stood up and walked out.
“Hey! Don’t leave Jayde! We’re only having fun.”
I removed Suzi’s green shirt and threw it inside Dave’s house as I left. I had a bitter taste in my mouth.
Leave it to me to turn a good old gaming hang out with the only girl that seems to understand me into drama central.
To top the evening off it was drizzling on me as I walked home. Without a shirt no less.
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~Jayde~
A few days later since I had walked out of David’s had been a bit depressing for me. Well, not a bit depressing. A lot depressing. Especially Sunday as normally Suzi and I would have hung out at the mall or skate park. I bailed on it however. I didn’t really know what to think of our friendship right now, and I think I may have done something really really stupid by walking out. I was too much of a coward to even answer her calls or read her texts.
What does that say about me? About my manhood? Nothing good I guess.
So I had let another two days pass until Byran had pulled me out shopping. I still only saw ‘Her’ in reflections. I had been hoping against hope that this would fade in time, but my psychotic break only seemed to be getting worse. Only getting more entrenched.
Or perhaps what Suzi said in jest was right when she was chattering about magical girls. All I know is that it had gotten tough to shave, and very distracting when I once walked into the bathroom without a shirt on. At least when I was out and about there were other people to look at.
Now out on a sidewalk downtown walking with Bryan things felt somewhat normal. It was nice to just chat. About video games and internet videos as we walked. Bryan was a good friend to hang out with. Neither derogatory like David or hyper active like Suzi. To put together a list of what we had in common outside of video games was a very short list. As well as a sad reminder of how little I had progressed in life. We had met in a first-person shooter contest in a gaming shop. It was the store’s attempt to draw in new customers. It really only just re-netted it’s same old group. I didn’t rank out very well, but Bryan owned most of the competition.
Our friendship began when I was dissing the controller setup I had been forced to use. He kicked my ass and I complained with a whole lot. Thus began our long drawn-out battle of the consoles.
Now on this fine Tuesday afternoon I found myself on the way back to his place after a successful round of purchases at the downtown gaming store. Well his purchases that is. I was playing the part of the faithful companion. Also there was a very good potential of getting my ass handed to me yet again tonight on his admittedly nice setup. At lease I would have some respite from how lonely I had been feeling after my tiff with Suzi.
It was pretty depressing that I really only knew Bryan, Suzi, and David from all the other people I had grown up with. Everyone else moving on and out of my life. I kept thinking on how they had gone to collage or to the military or married or what not. They didn’t have time for a loser like me who wasn’t going anywhere.
“I’m not sure about this latest attempt at a capture game.” Bryan stated out of the blue.
It took me a little off guard as we had been discussing an interesting live action internet video of the latest Final Fantasy. “The Digital Monsters one? Or the Ball Capture knock off?”
Of course I was a touch distracted as we walked along. We were next to the mirrored windows of a long strip of office complexes. I thought about switching sies with Bryan as when I looked over to talk with him I saw ‘Her’ in the window.
“No, I’m talking about some of those freemium games. It seems like the console game developers aren’t even trying anymore. I mean I guess I can understand since any kid can just hop on their tablet and download a game that you used to have to buy at a store.”
Bryan was like that. Very introspective on games, not really on anything else however. Just games. It takes all kinds I guess.
While we walked and talked I continued to take in the scenery. Bryan was better dressed that I was, which really didn’t take a lot of doing. He wore his work t-shirt, complete with corporate brand logo and a new set of jeans. He also wore a pair of brilliantly white sneakers that never seemed to get dirty. I was dressed in an old thrift store bought Zelda Tri-Force tee and some ratty pants I should have thrown away a few months ago.
Soon I was going to go out and buy some better clothes. These had been fine by my opinion until the dream. Now they were very distracting when I saw ‘Her’ in my reflections. Her hair was a short and messy page cut version of my current tassel of hair that was way overdue for a trim. On me I felt it looked nappy and awful. On her it looked adorable and cute. The jeans would have been alright if they fit, but the only reason they stayed up on ‘Her’ in the reflection was because it was all in my head. Finally the Zelda tee. It had a bit of an overstretched neck and was a little tight around my shoulders. On her though it could be positively indecent as it was almost a tent and the collar often flashed bits that should remain hidden.
I guess it was a good thing that I was the only one that could se her then. For all that was worth. I would be mortified if that was actually me that was caught in public.
Rounding a corner we maintained our chatter and I continued to watch people and their reflections. Since the Dream I had been watching people’s reflections a lot. Gaining an interest in those around me, or at least an awareness. It could also mean I was getting ready to break.
At least it gave me something to pay attention to besides myself.
Of course Bryan’s reflection was normal. Was walking along in the reflected sidewalk like normal. Everyone else’s lined up to their real self as well. Only mine was out of place.
A man not far in front of us, dressed in business casual. Probably on an afternoon break. The woman across the street in her ethnic dress that appeared to belong more in the Mediterranean than in a crowded American street. Even the pair of skater punks with their tats, piercings, and chains boarding towards us. We did our best to let them weave around us. Bryan held his bag of games close to his chest to make sure they were not yanked in passing.
Once the two were beyond us on their way I resumed my watch. I found it interesting just how many storefronts and offices were either fully or partially mirror tinted. I don’t think I have ever noticed it before. So introspective had my thoughts turned that I was no longer sure what we were discussing. Not that it was very important. Bryan and I just tended to have wandering conversations on whatever came up.
So I guess I could be forgiven for not noticing it at first. I was in something of a conversational fugue and window watching on the side. Everyone else’s reflections had always been normal. So even a gorgeous red headed woman walking aggressively towards us didn’t fully ping any mental warnings. Even watching her mirrored image didn’t pull me out. It should have. I mean a flame haired woman with large angelic bird like wings sprouting from her back shouldn’t read as normal. Her hair was a brilliant red, seemingly backlit as if by a fire. Hands ended in talonlike claws rather than proper fingernails. Pale alabaster skin, brilliant in the afternoon sun and containing a glow that would be pleasant to the eye.
Finally my introspective wandering ended as she blocked my path. My brain decided that the image belonged in a fantasy game really was her reflection and not just my own delusions. Reality came rushing back to find Bryan gazing very hapilly in her direction. Outside of the reflection I couldn’t blame him.
Hell, even without the reflection I would have been staring. Jaw dropped and everything. She wore tight leatherlike pants that she had to have been poured into. Footwear a pair of high-quality leather stiletto boots with bright studs running up the outsides. Tight blood red leather halter top styled vest over a fishnet long sleeved shirt that showed plenty of skin underneath. The long red hair that was part of reality and not the reflection was bright enough that it had to be a dye job. If it was it was a damned good one.
The very dazzling and also predatory looking woman stood watching us for a reaction. Then I realized it wasn’t us she was watching. It was me. Both of us were unable to speak. Bryan from hormones most likely. Me from that and the shock of her Avenging Angel visage in the mirrored window.
Bryan’s stillness was something of a blessing to me. It helped to extend the moment when any action would need to happen. I felt like prey cornered in the wild and the lioness was ready to pounce. I didn’t think my friend felt like prey though. More that he was a gamer geek who never passed up an opportunity to bask in a hot woman’s presence. Especially if she looked like she had just stepped out of a video game shoot.
Though I couldn’t’ move, couldn’t even look away, I saw the edges of her image move in my peripheral. Kestrel shaped wings that were brilliant white with bleeding red tips flexed slightly as she stood there. Feathers moving slightly in a non-existent breeze. My nervousness and anxiety grew as the moments passed. After a short time I am sure it showed on my face.
Eventually the woman/angel barring our way finally spoke.
“So are you going to just stand there and stare Magus?” Her tone was not exactly condescending. More that of a young woman who had caught her baby brother doing something particularly foul.
I didn’t know what to say, and it looked like Bryan’s brain had yet to catch up with the rest of him. When the woman spoke next she had gone from a slightly perturbed tone to that of the disgust I am sure a model reserves for ugly perverted old men ogling her.
“Well? Nothing to say?’
Neither of us knew yet how to respond to this gorgeous, yet unhinged, woman. I had troubles responding to unknown women, Bryan usually did not however. And it’s not that neither one of us didn’t know any, it was just that this particular one was new to us. Her looks notwithstanding, it was her reflection and the palpable energy I could feel emanating from her that held me cornered like a rabbit.
She didn’t seem like she would be able to wait any longer. Her nostrils flared and her temper was obviously on the rise. She cocked her hip up slightly and put her hand on it. Every motion seemed calculated to draw attention and edged with danger. Panic was rising in my chest as I slowly tore my gaze from her physical form to the Angelic visage in the mirror.
“Come now Magus.” Her voice contained a sneer nastier than the one showing on her face. “Don’t act like you’ve never seen cleavage before. I know what you are. I know you can see what I am. So close your Damned jaw and talk.”
The anger and impatience she wore was so strange to me. I’ve only seen it in movies or across the counter at work. Never once had such actions been directed at me, at my actual person.
Except, that is, from my father. Which was probably why I just stood there attempting to stammer up an apology and not running for my life.
“Oh, I get it now.” Her disdain palpable. Her expression shifted from an angry sneer to derisive revulsion. Sort of how David would look at me whenever I did anything remarkedly stupid. “HA! You’re just a youngling! Newly Chosen! A Baby. I bet you haven’t even Changed yet.”
As she talked, she leaned into my personal space, hands on hips and nasty expression on face. I took a step back and she followed, continuing her taunt. “You don’t look like much as a normal and look at your cute little Magus form.” She switched to almost a singsong tone. “Such a cute widdle ragamuffin. I bet you’ll only be good for one thing in that teeny tiny package.”
She jabbed a very well-manicured finger into my chest, right above my heart. It was well formed and very feminine, yet full of strength that I knew I would not be able to match. It wasn’t her human finger, or even her nasty verbal attack that had me poleaxed. It was the reflection, for if her winged form had been present then her talon would have been stabbed past my ribcage. Into my vitals.
The strange woman opened her mouth to continue her bullying tirade. Before she was able to speak any further Bryan knocked her arm down and stepped in between us.
“I don’t know what your problem is, and I don’t really care.” He stated brazenly. She backed up a little, expression still nasty. “But Back Off lady.”
I was really glad for Bryan’s intervention. I may have a lot of questions about what is going on, but I am pretty sure that this woman was the Wrong person to answer them.
She sniffed disdainfully at the two of us and collected herself back up. “Fine. I’ll find you later perhaps. Maybe after you have finally Changed. Goodbye Youngling.” She brushed past us, her tone so condescending that it almost felt like having been berated by an old lady yelling at us to get off her lawn.
Once she was out of sight Bryan and I finally relaxed.
“Well Jayde, I know you always wanted beautiful girls to pay attention to you but I don’t think that’s what you had in mind.”
I only nodded in agreement to his statement. As we walked along I rubbed the sore spot on my chest where she had poked. The woman had a lot of strength in that finger.
Owie…..
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End Chapter 06
Ooof… that was a pair of scenes! Got them out in one sitting no less! My fingers are the hurts now…..
Jayde is definitely less sure of the whole ‘Is it real or is it just a dream’ concept now.
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