"No one will notice the change, but they WILL notice the difference," Kyle continued. "Well, everyone other that you and I. I want you to remember what you used to be, so you can suffer properly."
As mortified as Jen was at what she was hearing, she was also suddenly confused. "They won't notice the change, but...what the hell are you talking about? Look, please, Kyle, I'll do anything, just don't..."
"Goodbye, Jen. I'll see you at school. Can't wait to see how everything turns out." A quit beep told Jen that Kyle had hung up on her.
Jen was beside herself. A rat girl?! What would that even look like? What would SHE look like? And what did Kyle mean, that others wouldn't notice the change, but would notice the difference?
She forced herself to breathe. In, out. Deep breaths. There was a chance the curse wasn't real, but...she'd heard too much about it. Too many rumors of weird things happening in town. And now, she was going to be part of those rumors...well, not if she couldn't help it.
Jen headed upstairs toward her parents' room. "Mom?"
"Yes, honey?" came the reply from down the hall.
"I, uh...I'm not feeling well." Jen cleared her throat, hoping it sounded course enough. Her heart was still pounding in her chest. That much was true, she DIDN'T feel well at all. "Could I stay home from school today?" She forced out an unconvincing cough.
Her mother's face popped out from behind the doorway to her room, an exasperated look on her face. "Jen, you skipped school just last week. And the week before due to 'feminine problems,' so I know it can't be that. And only a second ago you were screaming at the top of your lungs for the maid to help you get ready for school. You sure didn't sound sick then." Her mother sighed. "I'm sorry honey, I'm tired of having to make excuses for you with the school office."
Normally Jen would've pouted, or played up the "sick" act, but this was no laughing matter. Honestly, she was starting to feel strange already. Was it the curse, or just her imagination? "Mom, please, I'll do anything. I'll go to school for a month straight, and I won't ask to borrow the car, and I won't ask for money, and I'll do all my homework. Just PLEASE don't make me go today."
"I'm sorry Jen. You need to go to school. I know you're popular and you think you're above everyone else there, but you're not above me. I need to put my foot down sometimes." Her mother walked over to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "See? No fever. Now hurry up and get ready, the bus will be here any minute. Your top should be in your closet, Martha might've accidentally tucked it away behind some of the other clothes." She gave Jen a light push toward her bedroom.
Jen was dumbfounded at her mother's refusal, and absolutely dreaded what the day would bring. But what could she do? She finished getting dressed and putting on her makeup, stopping repeatedly to inspect herself in her mirror...nothing about her looked different yet, and she entertained the idea that the whole "curse" thing was a myth...yet a terrible feeling was growing inside of her. A strange anticipation, with weird little shudders that she couldn't shake off.
"Jen, the bus is here!" Her mother called from downstairs.
Jen put her face right up to the mirror. "You are NOT a rat girl," she told herself. Her mirror image stared back -- still as gorgeous as ever, she told herself. At the same time, she wondered if this was the last time she'd get to see her own face. She bared her teeth and tilted her head left and right. ...Were her incisors getting longer?
"JEN!!"
She sighed, steeled herself, grabbed her backpack and purse and ran off down the stairs toward the bus.