"I do not want to be a girl," Cole stated for the umpteenth time as Prudence and Shannon stated that the most logical thing to do was for Cole to remain as Geneva...which they had been trying to do for the last three hours since discovering the missing doll.
"Yeah, but," Prudence started and was cut off as Cole said, "Give me the amulet. I'll figure it out myself."
A hurt look crosses Prudence's face and looking to Shannon, she silently begged the girl to step in and offer some other answer or explanation that might sway Cole into remaining as Geneva, at least until they could get the doll back.
To Prudence's horror, Shannon instead stated, "I think it for the best to let Cole return. Truth be told, we don't even know where the doll is or even how to get it back. Seeing as your aunt doesn't have a phone or any way to contact her, short of going to her church."
"Which shan't be open until Wednesday," Cole interjects.
The look of hurt deepens and finally Prudence burst out, "Fine. Return to your old life. See if I care," and storming across her room, she flung open the closet door and disappeared inside.
Moments later she was back, holding the medallion by the chain and handing it to Cole, she thought about saying something, but instead changed her mind as Cole quietly told her, "Thanks. And just because I change back, doesn't mean I shan't stop help looking to get the real Geneva back."
"How do we even know that thing will even work?" Shannon asked.
Cole shrugged her shoulders and then explained, "I am going to try all the rest of today and all of tomorrow. If I do not turn back," she turned and looked at Prudence, "Then, I will consign my fate and accept that I have to be a girl that has no memories of her life and missing two years education."
Prudence peered at her best friend, mentally shook her head and reminded herself that it was her brother no matter how much she looked like Geneva and how she, Prudence, felt about the girl. After a moment, she commented, "I did not want your clothes in my room, so I tossed them back into your room, yesterday, while you were in the bathroom," and then took a seat on her bed.
Nodding, Cole turned and started to leave, when Shannon, who had resumed her seat on the bed, asked, "What's wrong with the picture of your family?"
Cole, knowing Prudence kept a small picture of the family on her nightstand, paused and thought about asking what Shannon meant, but after a moment of deliberation, she exited the room and moving down the hall, she stopped at what she thought as both Cole's room and her room, which puzzled her.
Shrugging it, off, looking down at the amulet and thinking it looked kind of cheep, she shrugged off the feeling and opened the door, figuring it was probably nerves or something.
Moments later Cole was back in Prudence's room and completely missing the look on the girl's face, Cole cried out, "What is going on here?"
Looking at the distraught girl, Shannon asked, "What do you mean?"
Stopping, realising that something was also wrong hear, Cole once again asked, "What is going on here?" and spying that Prudence was holding the family picture, she asked, "Is there something wrong with that?"
Shannon, torn between wanting an answer from Cole and wanting Prudence to explain the picture, finally stood and announced, "I cannot take this any more. Things are just too weird for me," and moving past Cole, she disappeared downstairs, leaving Cole and Prudence standing, looking at each other, an uncomfortable silence building.
After a moment, Prudence asked, "What's wrong?" as Cole asked, "What's wrong with the picture?"
Smiling in a strange way, Prudence shook her head and told the other girl, "You go first. I think your problem might just lead up to want I have to say," and then looked back down at the picture.
Unable to see the picture, Cole hesitated and after a bit, she stated, "My room is gone," which caused Prudence to look up as Cole continued to explain that her room now looked like it had been set up as a guest bedroom instead, all the while noting the different emotions flitting across Prudence's face as the look of being deeply troubled deepened.
After a moment of silence, Cole was about to ask something, when Prudence stated, "You, I mean Cole, I mean you," paused and then explained, "The picture is of just me, mom and dad."
"What?!?" Cole exclaimed as she moved across the room and taking the picture, she stared at it for a bit.
After a moment, she sat down on the bed and without giving it a single thought, she took Prudence's hand and holding it, she asked, "Now what are we going to do? Because, I don't know about you, but I cannot imagine living my life as Geneva and not having any of her memories to help me along."
Prudence, unsure how to answer, merely sat in silence, enjoying the touch of the other girl's hand in hers. After a moment, she stated, "We will think of something. In the meantime, I think we should call Shannon back."
Cole smiled and explained, "Won’t be that hard. She just downstairs."
Knowing that the girl really had never left and was not very serious about leaving, Prudence looked over at Cole, thought about saying something, but instead rose, grasped the chain and took the amulet from the other girl and depositing it on the nightstand, she explained, "We will have to think of something," as she forced the other girl to stand and then led her out of the room.