With a deep sigh you collect you baggie of socks and loafers, thank Blaine for his hospitality, tell George he can meet you back at the magic shop in a few hours. Although you processed all the alcohol through your dad's body you can smell it coming out of your pores, you are overdue for a shower, rubbing your cheek you think to yourself, and a shave.
Stepping out of the old high school you remember going to classes there. it was such a shame they shut it down 14 or so years ago. The school district wanted to sell the land but since the original structure built back in 1923 was classified as historic, the property couldn't be sold to anyone who intended to tear down the existing structure, the school didn't lend itself to most residential, commercial or industrial endeavors and after sitting on the market for a number of years, Blaine apparently got it for a decent price.
While reminiscing about your high school days you were fishing in your pockets searching for your car keys.... "Maybe they fell out while I was sleeping," you thought to yourself... As you turned back to Blaine's "house" you realized that you were 15 and don't own a car, or drive for that matter. And come to think of it, you didn't attend this high school which was closed shortly after you were born.
Words can barely describe how disconcerting it is to have emotional responses to things you aren't rightly familiar with, A wave of cold panic washes over you as you realize that you cant quite trust yourself. "We need to fix this fast.", you mumble to yourself as you turned to walk home.
Walking in the house your mom immediately calls and comes rushing over, "Honey, is that you?"
"Yeah mom, its me", you call out, somehow knowing just what to expect already being tired of the conversation.
"Where were you, you had us worried sick! Out all night, Honestly!?"
"I was out drinking with the guys, I didn't drive anywhere. The situation was completely safe, it was no big deal."
"Oh yeah? Well who were you with?"
"MOM! I didn't FUCK any girls, you aren't going to be a grandma yet so you can stop worrying! GOD!" With that you stormed off not quite understanding where that came from. Furthermore, you, being 15, well somewhere between 15 and 20, freely admitted drinking and that wasn't the focus of the conversation. Nor was your height, build, voice, or sudden ability to grow facial hair. This can't be a good sign.
You took a nice hot shower and relaxed. Though you woke not feeling hung over, your head felt clearer now. Stepping out you examined yourself in the mirror taking special care to make sure none of the changes grew more pronounced since this morning. Besides having more stubble than you originally noticed you looked the same. Then you remembered scratching your cheek and realizing you needed to shave earlier, so it must have been there but you were more focused on the goatee which was more visible.
Satisfied, you lathered up and shaved without thinking about it briefly considering some sort of designer stubble. When you finished you realized that you had left the beginnings of your goatee as you pondered your other options..."Meh, leave it" you thought as you went to grab fresh clothes. Looking around you realized you weren't in "your" bathroom, but you just happened to waltz into your parents' master bedroom and use your dad's shaving supplies without thinking... "Shit, I gotta fix this", you think to yourself wondering how George and Colby are doing.
After finding your longest pants and hoodie you went downstairs to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Your mother comes in an you sincerely apologize for raising your voice and explain that you need her to trust you more. You explain that you are growing up fast and if you need her, you will come to her. She looks at you, seeming to have mixed emotions, still angry that you caused worry but agreeing that she cant treat you like a kid anymore. She walks over and hugs you saying, "I will always worry, but ill try to not worry so much."
You smile back and say, "That's all I could hope for."
She exits the room leaving you to finish your breakfast in peace. You contemplate the state of your relationship with your mother feeling good that things are resolved and you do feel you have open communication with her. After a few moments you realize you had finished your coffee and get up to make another cup of instant. Only upon standing do you realize that you drank coffee black. You don't drink coffee, and when you do it's mostly cream and sugar. Another cold chill washes over you and you feel like you are loosing yourself to God only knows what.
Although it now feels foreign you go through the motions and make another cup, testing yourself, with its taste, and heat. It is the strangest sensation of being alien and routine at the same time. Like walking outside and finding the sky is green and the grass is purple. It isn't offensive but also it isn't right.
You finish your cereal and second cup of coffee. you find your mother and make a point of telling her you are going to return a defective item and expect to be back in a few hours. You remind her that she can call your phone if she starts to worry and there is nothing to get upset about. She smiles and waives her hand telling you to go and stop lecturing her... you laugh good naturedly, grab the socks, and head out. Mom calls back and says, "Honey, come back later, Ill talk to your father for you" Yeah, you have a good relationship with your mom.