After a pleasant afternoon with Yuriko and her family, Mia and Ann sadly returned home. Both girls enjoyed their visit yet they needed to head home.
The next day of school was thankfully much quieter, Unfortunately it meant Mia and Winery were stuck in detention. As their friends now waited for them afterschool, they talked while watching Zack and Drake practice.
"So how was your trip," Fae asked. Ann shrugged as she gazed out at the practice field. "It was fun," she said. "I ended up visiting my sister Katie. Her and her wife are doing great, I guess Kellie finished law school and got a job in the prosecutor's office."
"Did you see me," Gloria asked. "Or well the other me?"
"No your doppleganger is at college," Ann chuckled. "So is the other Jackie but I heard their doing great."
"Its still seemed so weird knowing their are other versions of us out there," Jackie sighed.
"Least you two have dopplegangers," Fae said. "Doubt any of us have other versions of ourselves in that timeline." The girls nodded in agreement, gazing down at the field as Pryyha practiced with the cheerleaders while Zack and Drake played football.
"Wonder if Winery is in trouble for missing practice," Jackie wondered.
"Pretty sure Akira told the coach she would be late," Ann said. "Besides, it looks like detention is over." The others now looked to where Ann was pointing, noticing Winery and Mia leaving the school. The two teens seemed to exchange small talk before Winery ran to join the rest of the cheer team.
Mia waved, clamoring into the stands to join her friends. "How was detention," Ann asked. "Not awful," Mia shrugged. "We mostly helped Akira unpack before placing a few protection spells around the school."
"Protection spells," Ann asked, raising an eyebrow. "Mostly to keep Rexie out," Mia replied sheepishly. "Now she cant come on school grounds unless I'm in danger." The group chuckled, looking over at Winery as she fell in line for practice. "So how long before Winery is head cheerleader," Fae smirked.
"Give it a month," Gloria stated.
"Not if Miranda has anything to say about it," Jackie added. "She hates Winery. I actually heard a rumor shes part of the One Humanity." The group now looked over at the head cheerleader Miranda Thomas, the leggy blonde senior was now berating Winery, angry at the girl for being late.
"One Humanity cmon," Mia scoffed. "I mean sure shes a bitch but I doubt shes part of a fanatical hate group."
Ann now studied the senior girl carefully. Miranda certainly wasnt the most pleasant person to be around. Beautiful, smart, and popular she was the quintessential high school hottie. Still Ann could sense something darker within the teenage girl. Obviously she would need to keep an eye on Miranda, just in case.
"Oh look Zacks playing," Fae exclaimed. The others looked as the skinny teen now went out on the field. Mia sighed, dreamily watching as her best friend took the field.
District rules stated that in order to make things fair, magical beings had to remain in human form while playing so that no distinct advantage could be had. However, practice was a different story. The teenage girls now watched as anthros, Lycans, Mummies, Fairies, Tanuki, and even dragon men lined up. "How come Zack hasnt changed," Gloria asked.
Mia smirked, leaning back. "Just watch trust me."
The others now watched as Zack lined up on defense. As the play began the girls watched as a rather large anthro rhino running back took the ball. The girls were astounded by not only his speed but his size. The rhino running backs uniform strained against his massively muscled body, the teens helmet barely covering his thick rhino head. Zack now looked to tackle him, still in human form. At first it looked as if Zack would be trampled. What happened next surprised them.
Zack was amazingly holding his own, slowing down the massive rhino boy. "How," Ann exclaimed.
"Because Zacks power comes from Circe," Mia stated. "So even when hes human hes stronger than normal."
As strong as Zack was though, he was slowly being pushed backwards. The rhino teen taking exception to the new guy trying to tackle him now roughly pushed Zacks face, knocking his helmet off. "Hey dirty play," Fae exclaimed.
Zack now grimaced, his eyes gleaming red as he began to change. Zacks body became more muscular, dark fur covering his body as his mouth turned into a muzzle. The teens body also began to grow, becoming more muscular as he now stood at impressive 8 feet in height, much like the anthro rhino.
"Geez Zack still cant take that guy down," Jackie said in awe. Mia simply smirked, waiting for Zack to take things seriously.
Another dirty move by the running back only enraged Zack more. The anthro rhino had decided to perform a 'cup check' on Zack, punching the werewolf in the groin. Zack now howled, digging his feet on as he began to grow once more.
From the girls perspective it almost seemed like the rhino was shrinking. Zack soon stood a head taller than him, than the rhino was chest high, and finally only waist high to an obviously enraged werewolf. Zack now snatched the anthro rhino up like a small child, dangling him with one arm before roughly sitting him down on the field. The anthro rhino simply gawked at Zack, muttering an earnest apology at a now 16 foot tall Zack.
"Zacks not an ordinary Lycan," Mia chuckled. "He can grow in size. I actually saw him get close to 20 feet tall once, but it takes alot out of him."
The teens simply gawked at their friend, watching as he transformed back into the lanky teen they had come to know. Zack now smiled, reaching down to help his teammate to his feet before running another play. For the girls they now found themselves thankful for two things. One that Zack was a genuinely nice guy and two that he was their friend.