[Together] The power of friendship.

Anne stares out the window of their apartment like a cat that couldn't figure out how to catch a bird on the other side of the glass. She paces back and forth, each time returning to the window to make sure that the incredibly rare book her friend threw out the window is still there. The Trap of the Trickster lies open, spine bent, on the curb outside the window. It is practically in the street. One careless kick and it would be in the middle of traffic. Kacie watches this display with a furrowed brow. Each whine from her redheaded roommate's lips is met with an exasperated growl, and a longing glance at her bedroom door.

"I swear to fucking God, Anne!" Kacie barks at her friend. "If you get me turned into a mouse I'm going to bite you so hard!"

"What? Really?" Anne asks, disbelieving. "What happened to staying in being the best course of action?"

"It still is, but I don't want to have to babysit you all day. You and I both know that the second I leave this room you're probably going to bolt out the door still in your underwear to retrieve that book."

Beaming, Anne bounds across the room and throws her arms around her friend. Kacie squirms, trying to push the redhead off, but Anne manages to place a smooch on her grumpy friend's cheek before she can.

"Ah! What is wrong with you? Did you forget we weren't girls like an hour ago? Don't do things like that!"

"But you're so soft and cute! I just want to—"

"Nope!" Kacie interrupts, her face burning. "I'm going to get dressed!"

Kacie's bedroom door slams shut, and Anne giggles excitedly. She really is cute. I might actually be sad when we're normal again. The freckled girl thinks. Well, better enjoy it while it lasts. Adventure time! She follows her roommate's lead, disappearing into her own bedroom. You are left waiting in the apartment's living room—a neutral space—since you chose to follow the adventures of both girls. After all, it wouldn't be fair to one if you get to see the other in a state of undress. They might start to get jealous of one another. You hear a commotion coming from Kacie's room. It sounds like she's getting into a fight with her wardrobe—cursing and slamming drawers shut—where as the most you hear from Anne's side of the apartment are excited squeaks.

"Mother fucker!" Kacie yells as she exits her room in a huff. The leather jacket, distressed jeans, and thick-soled boots she wears fit her rowdy tomboyish attitude perfectly. You can't imagine what she has to be upset about.

"What's wrong?" Anne asks, stepping out dressed in a purple knit sweater, a skater skirt, black tights, and a pair of Converse.

"My clothes! They've all cha—" She stares at her friend, swallowing her words as she sees the outfit Anne is dressed in. "Did you wish for us to—no. No, you wouldn't have done that... nevermind. Let's go get that book of yours."

You follow the girls out onto the street. There are a few people walking their dogs and a few cars driving by, but the urban side street they live on isn't the busiest you've ever seen. The book remains lying half in the street, open with its bent cover facing the girls. Kacie crouches down, picks up the book, shakes it off and wipes it clean on her hip.

"I was expecting shadowy figures in unmarked vans rolling up to come grab us." She says, looking down the street like a meerkat. She hands the book to Anne, who immediately starts to page through it. "You happy now? You got your book back."

"Yeah, I am, but..." Anne's freckled cheeks look especially rosy. "Don't you find this all a little bit... exciting?"

She inhales sharply. Her thighs subtly press together and her back arches slightly, pushing her chest forward so that her sweater looks tighter. Kacie looks both bewildered and pallid in response. Why does she have to enjoy this so much? The tall tomboy wonders.

"I don't know if I told you this, but these books always had this effect on me. I don't know how to explain it, but that's why I wanted this one so badly." Anne bites the edge of her lip. "And now we're living out one of those books, and I'm terrified, but being afraid makes me even more excited. And I know you probably hate me right now for being excited, for getting you into this, for secretly hoping I might get to see or experience one of those terrible things happening to us, but I'm so happy that we're doing this together. If I meet some horribly sexy ending I'm glad that you'll be there to take care of me. I'm so happy we're friends, Kacie."

"Fuck, Anne, that's a lot." Kacie looks at her earnest friend, turns away, and crouches down to take a deep breath. "I don't hate you. I'm just fucking worried that your excitement is going to cloud your judgement. I'm happy we're friends too, but right now I'm not sure if I fully trust you to make the right choices."

"I'm so happy you don't hate me. You have no idea. But I'm not sure if there are any right choices. Like, what do we do right now?" Anne asks. "What if you're right and there are no answers in this book?"

"Well, then, I guess we track down whatever fucking idiot sold it to you in the first place. Where'd you get that thing?"

"There was a used book seller at a flea market." Anne sighs. "I don't think they'll be there anymore, but I guess we could check..."

What do YOU think they should do? Investigate the book itself further, or try to track down the person that sold the book to Anne in the first place?