Uninvited Guests

By the end of their dance routine, Jessica felt ready for another shower. Her best friend entered another competitive frenzy in their workout if only fueled by the relentless series of questions,

"Okay, so what does that mean? 'Your Mom's an illegal immigrant? Human trafficking victim? Runaway Heiress?"

The redhead was confused by the way the genie had to spin the conversation. The inability to reveal the truth made her mouth spin out to lock up or say things that came across as outright crazy.

At this point, the genie began to regret her admission to Sam that she had talked to her mother again as she shook her head in frustration,

"No! God, Sammy!"

It was more like all of the above, but she wasn't exactly able to explain that her mother was a magical being from another realm. No matter what, the cheerleader's brain steered itself away from any lines regarding her true heritage. Save for one word.

Having to actually say Simon's name instead of his title around Sam also made her mouth sore from the extra effort. It was so natural to call him that now she hadn't even bothered to think about what would happen if someone heard her say that instead of the name. Jessica found herself flipped between internally freaking out and external annoyance at having to watch out for the word Master as if she was suddenly having to struggle with a foreign language.

The sweaty genie adjusted her workout bikini bottoms again with a tug and ran her hands through her loose blonde bangs again as sweat dripped against the hardwood floor. It took a moment, but the Queen of Eastlake continued the conversation with her best friend,

"I don't know what it was. She just said a lot of people could get into trouble if her 'family' found out we were talking. Mom wanted to keep me as far away from them as possible."

Family was a spur-of-the-moment term, but Jessica was hard-pressed to use something other than Evil Master and fellow Djinn Sisters. However, it did line up with another fact she could reveal in that context,

"She said her elder sister is a real bitch and would snuff out anything if she wasn't careful."

The Red Queen of Eastlake nodded as she stretched out her toned pale legs again while trying to get a look at the blonde's face, and then stood up,

"Are you going to tell your Dad? Or the cops? This sounds pretty crazy, Jessie. I mean - I'm happy for you finally learning about your Mom, but how you're talking about her family makes it sound like the feds should get involved."

The concern in Sam's eyes with the authoritative hand on her hip made it clear that the former cheerleader thought that there should be more being done. Unlike the genie, she could slip on her hoodie again and not have to ask to get changed.

"Daddy's going out of town, and he acts like she's already dead to him. Losing her messed him up a lot. Plus, even if I did, I doubt he'd actually believe me or be able to help. After what Mom told me, I know they're more powerful than the cops."

Simon's sister rubbed her arm as she tried to think of a solution aloud as if it were a problem,

"I mean, you're loaded, though. Couldn’t you…ionno….”

The Queen of Eastlake sighed and popped her water bottle open with her mouth, "I'm loaded, but I'm not that loaded, Sammy."

After a quick swig, the blonde gasped for air and shrugged off the concern,

"Ma-S-Simon, helped me make sure the line we use is super encrypted, so at least we're talking more. Mom's pretty paranoid about being found out already. She freaked out about us finding her and being exposed. She even threatened and admonished Simon for helping me."

"She threatened my brother?"

Sam's eyes narrowed as the blonde flinched at the tone her best friend took and held up her hand,

"Relax, Sammy. My Mom knows I'd do something if she hurt him. She was lashing out because of how paranoid she was."

The redhead rolled her eyes,

"Guess that's a family trait, then…."

The genie almost committed yet another spit take as she gasped and spazzed angrily,

"W-What! I'm not paranoid!"

Sam scoffed and leaned forward at the Head Cheerleader with a scolding finger, "Oh, like hell you're aren't, Jessie! Are you fucking kidding me? You won't let anyone near your throne when you feel like someone is out to take it. If it wasn't for this latest craziness with your Birthday and Simon, I probably would've stopped talking to you at some point."

Jessica suddenly froze up and winced as Sam seemed to catch her own words. The blonde poked her fingers together,

"W-Why's that?"

Realizing the cat was out of the bag, the redheaded former cheerleader sighed and motioned,

"Look, I wasn't going to remind you of anything about this for the billionth time, but you're - or were - too obsessed with becoming Prom Queen. Like hell, you're not done with that. I mean, you took being a bitch to everyone to a whole other level. Putting on your obsessive act with advertising senior events? Getting talked into being seen with certain boys, teasing other classmates' boyfriends, bribing your partners in class to help do your projects, dating Brad Myers, trying to turn your Birthday into a freaking School Holiday? Trying to put on the greatest party ever for your 18th Birthday is something you'd do. I get it. You always want to please everyone, but you just…it was almost inhuman how you looked at your competition. I'm on the committee with you because you asked, and you got paranoid two weeks ago, thinking I'd overtake your voting. So you sent Tiff after me."

The blonde pulled her legs in as she sighed,

"C'mon, don't start with that. Tiffany manipulated me the whole time, Sammy, but I'd never send her after you…."

"So you never sent her to say you were worried and upset I'd pass you?"

The blonde shook her head,

"No, I'd never do that to you. You're my best friend, Sammy. We're like Sisters."

Sam sighed and shook her head,

"Starting to wish I never introduced the two of you. I loved how close we all were, but I ignored all the poison Tiff put in your head. She was always snobby. Especially toward my brother."

The absence of their third member of the Popular Queen Triad made the Cheer Captain wince and frown. The pain of the raven-haired gossip queen's betrayal ran deep as ever. The reminder that Jessica herself had placed Tiffany Stephenson under a Magical Induced House arrest. She wasn't ready to talk or confront her, not yet.

"She talked me into bullying him more," the genie clenched her ankles tightly in anger, her voice remaining somber and quiet as she referenced her Master once more.

"And I did it."

Sam sighed again,

"Well, Simon will get the last laugh on her for that now that you're dating, so…."

The blonde smirked as she flipped her hair from her face again,

"Yeah. Still. I want payback. Which I guess is how everyone else probably feels about me, so…"

Sam huffed,

"Oh yeah, you'll still have to make up for all the antics from this year. Lotta people wouldn't mind seeing you and Tiffany get knocked down a few pegs. I'm pretty sure Valerie was going to confront you in the locker room with a softball bat at the rate you both were going. She had it out for you, y'know."

Jessica growled as she flashed back to her last day at Eastlake and the outbursts or looks she received when they were free to be angry with her because of Kevin,

"I know. I know! Ugh!"

The 18-year-old flipped her body back and lay on the wooden floor with her eyes squinted shut. Realizing your actions was a pain in the ass.

"The whole school turned on me this week…."

"Jessie, c'mon. It was a gas leak. Everything was wacky."

The genie looked over as her friend rubbed the back of her neck and smiled as the red locks of her hair dropped over her shoulder,

"I wish you could give yourself a break sometimes. It's okay not to go to such extremes all the time. You can be worse than Simon with that."

The blonde snorted,

"And you can't? C'mon!"

Jessica sighed as she allowed the frown to quickly fade and relax on the floor. She spread herself out and felt her unnaturally gifted sense of flexibility kick in. Her legs rose to her torso and split outwards,

"Do you think he'd go with me?"

"What?"

"Simon," she stressed the name as her lips focused on it, the dreams of her past and the dreams of her future merged into one,

"Do you think he'd go to Prom with me?"

Sam shook her head and scoffed,

"I mean, you drag him everywhere again. I doubt you'd give him a say, but dances aren't really my brother's thing."

The blonde began to pout sadly as it made sense. Her Master was an outsider; he knew better than anyone how important it was to her, but at the same time…he had never gone to dances. He avoided them. Sam continued to list off, unaware of her reaction,

"I mean, he's not exactly the most coordinated person in the world. Don't think he can handle ballroom dancing. Freshman year made him so uncomfortable having to do that! Plus the loud music and the crowds. He knows you'll probably be Queen, so he'd stick out like a sore thumb next to you."

Jessica found herself saddened by it but more out of disappointment. Master would allow her to go, but it wouldn't be the same.

"Though, you're probably going to be stuck as Queen at this point, so he's going to have to suck it up and go with you. When Simon cares, he cares. That's just how it goes. That Doofus."

The genie silently nodded as she thought to herself and clenched her ankles. Simon did care; there was no objection to that, but there were still glimpses when he was with Kevin,

"Are you afraid he's changing because of me?"

"He's definitely bolder," Sam sighed and then smirked, "But I think he'll turn you into a dork before you change him. Even with all the help he got, my brother seems to have found his gear. Simon's much more focused. He's definitely not as repressed anymore. For sure."

"Not at all," the blonde giggled as her face began to glow again.

Immediately, the redhead narrowed her eyes,

"Jess, what the fuck does that mean?"

Fuck, she was going to ask again, wasn't she? The blonde cheerleader hopped back onto her feet, and with a bubbly wink, she stuck her tongue out teasingly with her arms behind her back,

"None of your business! I need to shower, or I'll be late for our meetup, c'mon!"

"Jess! Jessie, you get back here! This isn't funny!"

"I can't hear you!"

Sam growled and shook her head, a frustrated stomp of the floor and holler down the hall,

"I wish you'd stop teasing everyone so much! This isn't over!"

The genie's voice echoed back,

_"Simon says, come shower with me, Sammy!"_

---

What was it with people who showed up without warning? Simon sighed to himself.

He could already hear the voice of Dr. Patel telling him that his rigidity was showing again. It hadn't really been an issue when he was dealing with either Jessica, Kevin, or Sam – and his sister's voice already jabbed him mentally over it.

Then again, she would've thrown a stiff jab at the football player in front of him if she knew Chris had come within 10 feet of him after what had happened at school.

Worst of all, Simon could see that the athlete knew it. Jessica's friend's discomfort with the encounter was more straightforward to notice than it was for him. The awkward teen sighed and slumped his shoulders while holding his bookbag over his left shoulder, avoiding eye contact,

"Sorry about fucking up your season, I guess…."

The more well-built and chiseled features on Chris let out a scoff and then a laugh,

"Dude, you're apologizing to me? For that?"

The awkward teen raised an eyebrow as he watched his classmate look over his shoulder toward Cassie. Chris sighed and shook his head. His more lax and easygoing demeanor was evident from the start,

"Don't worry about it. I'm the one who's sorry. With how Brad and Tiff reacted, curiosity got the better of me; I should've stopped it sooner."

Simon shrugged it off with another sigh,

"Doubt you could've."

They knew their clique and friends, as did Simon by proximity to both good and bad. Chris was on the better end of the group, and the two had some similarities. Both had a twin sister, the same age, who would rather get along than fight with others, but he could also mistake the forest for the trees. He was the definitional Varsity Football player who worked hard and earned his scholarship to college versus Brad's constant unearned superiority and focus. The guy wasn't as surrounded or fueled by toxic expectations and upbringing.

Everything was a simple matter of perspective. Simon's was that Chris was a good guy, but good people were still people – everyone had flaws.

"Sam wants to kill you," the Master of Jessica stated with blunt acceptance.

The football player's face squirmed as he frowned,

"She said that, huh?"

"She also called you an idiot who knew better and wants to beat you."

Chris tried to keep his face as pleasant as possible with a resigned smile and chuckle at the awkward dork who stood slightly taller than he did.

"Yeah…Yeah, that sounds like her, all right."

One of the dumbest cliches Simon saw in media was the 'will they/won't they' of school relationships. It was an open secret that Chris and Sam wanted to go out together. They even gave the impression that they had. If Eastlake's athlete ambassador had not initially gone along with Brad Myers' gang up in the hallway over Jessica, Simon would've just asked him out loud.

"Why don't you just ask her out already?"

The question asked in an upfront tone as the young woman bounced on her heels behind both of her male classmates. Cassie sighed and rested a hand on her hip,

"If you want to make it up to her, you gotta be bold! You know how Sam gets when…."

Halfway through the flexible and slender cheerleader's statement, Simon had to move his eyes to the side to see Chris make scissoring motions with his hands and also a cutting motion toward his neck,

"C-Cass!"

The athlete's face was clearly struggling as the dork realized he was being pointed at from behind. The bob-cut brunette swiveled her head and looked at Simon with her large brown eyes as his hazel eyes looked back. The cheerleader covered her mouth with both hands,

"Oh! Um, I didn't say that aloud…did…."

"Yep."

The cheerleader smiled and scratched her cheek with a laugh as she realized the situation she put herself in,

"W-Well, you know Sam, too! Am I wrong, Simon?"

The dork's eyes squint shut as Cassie just dug the hole deeper by bringing him into this. Chris sighed,

"Cassie, if I didn't know you since…I swear…."

The football player looked more uncomfortable in this situation than Simon did – which was impressive for the awkward teen, considering they were talking about his sister in front of his sibling's and girlfriend's friends.

However, he raised an eyebrow when Chris seemed to catch something and raised his in turn. Simon watched his eyes dart between him and somewhere before he put on his diplomatic poker face. Relaxed, but certainly not a smile.

"Can you answer something for me, Harris?"

The auburn-haired boy glanced back as he heard Cassie's feet scuff the floor. He then shrugged his shoulder while holding the strap of his bag as his way to tell Chris to go ahead. He tried not to anticipate or expect the answer, but several apparent candidates flashed in his mind. Then, the athletic student drew closer and shooed the nosy cheerleader away before he spoke in a calm voice,

"What exactly was it?"

Simon raised an eyebrow,

"Was what?"

Chris sighed after quickly turning around and glaring at Cassie to keep her distance again, the brunette ducking away by a nearby bench. He allowed a look of concern and mild suspicion to appear, holding back more than he let on because another friend was nearby,

"Look, Simon. I've jabbed you a few times over the years. Unlike some of my friends, it wasn't out of spite. I listened to Sam, and sure, you hang around with someone that I have no real love for, but I could tell you weren't this freak or idiot that the others said you were."

Simon felt an arm around his far shoulder and draw him closer,

"But, I'm also not a fool. Something happened at Jess' Party or after - and whatever it was, I've watched my friends chaotically blow apart – and it all started that first morning back when she told us to lay off you and then ran screaming to you in front of Brad. He was convinced you stole his girlfriend, and Tiffany was sure you'd done something to her that'd mess her up. I failed to hold my friend back, and I failed to keep the peace. That's on me. I accept that I fucked up."

He then leaned closer and squeezed his hand firmly,

"That doesn't change the fact that I've had conflicting stories and chaotic messages that I could do nothing about after that. Brad left town with his Dad, and every girl I know, including your sister, her friends, and other cheerleaders like my ex, were at each other's throats. Sam, Tiff, Cassie, my ex Nina, and Jessica told us different conflicting stories. Jason and I can't keep up, especially since that bomb you dropped on me about Brad sleeping with his girlfriend. So you tell me, what am I supposed to believe caused all of this, Simon? C'mon. Man-to-Man. Tell me the truth. What did you do?"

The Truth. Chris knew the young man wasn't much of a liar. Sam and Jessica had made that point to them before – Kevin was the liar. Simon wasn't.

But Simon was getting better at deception. He needed to be to help Jessica. After the constant pounding by those around them, the genie had pounded the Narrative clearly. There was lying, there was the truth, but then there was the Narrative.

Facts, Omissions, Lies, and Details - FOLD. Fold it all into the Narrative.

The discomfort of lies can be more easily repressed with repetition of the Narrative. Simon didn't have to say anything false to be misleading.

"Did you know before that it was nearly ten years since I finally had a moment alone with her?"

"With whom?"

Simon closed his eyes as he smiled,

"Jess. Before you, before the squad, Eastlake, Cassie, before Tiffany – hell – before Sam. It used to be me."

The feeling of the ring on his finger grew tighter as he curled his fingers while switching hands on his bag,

"She was scared of being 18. Sam brought Jess home, and she was upset and confronted me in my room. So, I told her the truth. Showed it even. I only wanted to remind her who I was, and she remembered. There was a lot of talking."

Simon let out a nervous laugh and smiled,

"Sorry. I don't mean to be cryptic. There's just a lot replaying in my head."

Chris's jaw opened for only a moment, then he put it together in his head and smirked,

"So, those pics Jess posted the other night, they really are you, huh?"

"She took screenshots the other day. They're all in an album in my room."

"No wonder Cas keeps saying you're a wizard."

Simon raised an eyebrow as both young men turned to see the brunette duck her head as she drew closer to listen in with her nimble form,

"In my experience, it takes magic to get Queen Jessica to change her opinion that fast. You sure you're up for this?"

The young genie master cocked his head to the side,

"Up for what?"

Chris chuckled,

"No offense, Harris, but you haven't exactly had the reputation of a ladies' man or someone who wants to stand out like you do sometimes. You sure you can keep up with her?"

"Try navigating Kevin and Jess as your two oldest friends, Chris. Besides, I don't expect Jess to be anyone other than herself. I'll manage."

The football player let out a laugh,

"In that case, I can't tell whether that's sadism or masochism on your part. You have my sympathies in dealing with that…and the suitors that come with it."

Simon frowned,

"Jess isn't how she is with…."

A hand slapped itself over his chest muscles to stop him, and Chris snickered again,

"She's not the one I'm talking about, Simon. Try using that awareness your sister rants about you occasionally needing."

"Eh?"

Why was Chris acting like he knew something that he didn't? Simon was not a fan when someone knew something and used it in front of him.

The football player smirked and used a quick burst of strength to spin the awkward teen's shoulders around in a 180 turn. Chris pat Simon with both hands before the release,

"Okay, Cass! You can ask him to teach you the tongue thing for Spanish; I'm out of here!"

The brunette's yellow top bounced as her knees sprung the cheerleader to her feet. Simon noticed the flustered cheeks and panic in Cassie's eyes as she sputtered a protest,

"Ch-Chris! That's not…."

"Don't get on Jessica's bad side now!"

Simon began to think this was a setup with the way the two popular clique members bounced over his head. In any case, Cassie rushed toward the door but stopped before colliding with the taller dork's chest. She clutched a book-style binder in her arms and ducked away to move her hair out and behind her ear.

Was this because of their prior interaction outside the locker room? She wasn't still embarrassed by…

"Um, hi!"

"You said that."

"Y-Yeah! Um…right, so….”

The brunette's arms tightened around the binder as she looked up with a bounce,

"Do you have a minute?"

Simon blinked as he realized what was most likely hidden in that binder,

"Oh," he smiled and scratched the back of his head,

"Sure!"

---

Sam knew Jessica was keeping something from her, but it was hard to tell when she was so bubbly. Her blonde friend committed far more teasing in that state.

"J-Jessie!"

The redhead found herself nearly shrieking in a broken gasp as her best friend's soapy hands wrapped around from behind to grab her boobs. The Head Cheerleader whined,

"God, Sammy. You're always so sensitive about your chest!"

Sam broke her former teammate off, covering her chest in the shower as she saw a tongue sticking out at her. It was hard to tell if her skin was red from the hot water in the shower or the embarrassment her best friend had caused. She looked down bashfully with a scowl as she mumbled to herself,

"Like you're one to talk…."

In defiance, she shot out an arm to pinch one of the blonde's nipples, but Jessica managed to step back and giggle under the other shower head to rinse herself off.

It was no secret to Sam that they had become more attractive to society than their peers. Simon once made her laugh when he looked between a photo of her together with Jessica and Tiffany and then back at a Banana Spit their mother made.

Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry. Blonde, Black, and Red. The three most popular senior girls at Eastlake. She had told that to the two other cheerleaders and watched them laugh in reaction, Tiffany at the weird idiot she perceived Simon to be and Jessica at the idea of them being Ice Cream.

Unfortunately for Chocolate, Vanilla & Strawberry filled out more, and Sam made mention of it as she guardedly rinsed herself off across from Jessica,

"Well, at least we won't have to hear Tiffany attempt not to be jealous anymore for a while."

"Hm?"

Jessica imitated her brother again when she tilted her head,

"I thought she did that to tease us about not being as flexible."

Sam whipped her hair back as some of it fell over her shoulders and naked breasts,

"Please. You kidding? She used to be all that when we were freshmen, and her growth spurt kicked in before ours did. Tiff's always been jealous of you. She just hid it well until now."

The blonde continued to process the information as her green eyes stayed forward and uncaring of her nude state as the showers shut off,

"Did she tell you any of this?"

Sam cursed to herself for again forgetting her best friend's naivety and crossed her arms to quickly guard against any more groping,

"To my face? No. I overheard her with Jane and Nina before and caught her modeling at a sleepover once or twice while muttering about us. She'd never be happy or grateful for what she already has. All that teasing was just her being disgruntled."

The redhead glanced as she covered herself with a towel and turned back to her friend. Jessica always hated appearing ****, and after the number of hits that came at her over Simon, Sam wouldn't let her stew over it again like last time.

"You going to stand around naked all day?"

The blonde shook her head and yawned as she walked out of the shower without bothering to grab a towel as wet footprints followed her to the dressing room. Thankfully, she seemed completely unfazed by their conversation,

"Think that coffee I had is finally wearing off. I might need a nap."

Sam watched as Jessica rubbed the center of that strange golden choker her mystery mother had gifted her. The emerald inside of it was the same color as her best friend's eyes as she brushed by and hummed to herself. The redhead went to her small wall locker and took the bag out with another set of athletic wear inside,

"Y'know, Jessie. I'll tell Simon he has to take you to Prom if it means that much to you. If only to see him attempt dancing."

There wasn't a response as Sam quickly looked behind and around the room, with the blonde no longer in sight. It was a bit of a relief as she pulled out the black push-up bra and g-string she had recently bought the other day. Her face turned slightly red at what had become her new habit and retail therapy. She knew how to be sexy, and she knew how to tease, but it was always an effort, unlike her friends.

After seeing her brother's and best friend's reactions the other night, however, Sam felt its appeal. She liked the fire, the heat, and the way her body burned. The former cheerleader bit her lip as the thin strap clung to her hips and wedged in between her ass, the dark smirk on the edge of her lips.

"Sammy."

The fire quickly died out in the wind as the young woman swung around to the voice right behind her, "Holy Fuck!"

Jessica had already been dressed and finished in the time it took Sam to snap her fingers. The redhead clutched where her heart threatened to pound out of her chest,

"Jessie! Jesus Christ! Don't sneak up on me like…."

Okay, this was weird, she thought while her voice paused.

Her best friend looked a bit off. As if she was staring at her, but also something else. Sam had never seen that look or expression on the blonde's face before. Jessica was between entranced and aroused. The redhead looked down at herself and then back as her aquamarine-colored eyes widened.

Was Jessica….

"Simon says forget this interaction when I leave the room."

Sam felt herself stare off into space again for a moment. By distracting her, Jessica had made her lose her train of thought a lot lately.

"I'm not allowed to tell you the truth, Sammy. Not yet, anyway. I'm not ready to…."

What?

Sam felt her skin crawl with goosebumps from Jessica's strange tone of voice. It sounded soothing as much as it did entrance. Her best friend had been acting weird like everyone else had, but not like this.

This was way too weird.

"You never gave me an answer before…."

It was so strange. Jessica looked like she would levitate off the ground if she lifted both feet. She stuck her hands out to her sides like a little girl or as if she was about to dance. Sam didn't understand how she could feel this way as her best friend drew closer. It was as if breathing the air was making her more aroused until they were inches apart.

"…about what you would wish for…."

What would she wish for? Sam's confusion increased as the emerald eyes stared up right into her face, their breasts pressed into each other with the fabric of their bras and Jessica's thin top keeping their nipples from touching. The burning in between her legs increased,

"J-Jess…."

"Whatever you wanted, desired most, Sammy. If you could wish for it, what would it be?"

Their faces drew closer as Sam gasped at the feeling of the blonde's hands gripping and massaging her exposed ass cheeks. The way Jessica grabbed her was caring but also greedy. No one had ever held her like that, let alone her best friend, her brother's girlfriend.

"I-I…I don't know… I'd have to think about it… there's…."

It was so hard to focus with Jessica's eyes all over her, looking at something unseen as the cheerleader's hand slipped underneath the g-string's strap, having it switch between fingers as Sam felt the top of her back press further into the lockers behind her,

"I wouldn't want to use it for myself…I…."

The redhead bit her lip as a mew escaped,

"I wish I could just blurt things out like my brother at times like this…without thinking…."

Jessica pulled her chin down so they could be eye to eye with one another once more with no warning,

"Master overthinks, too, but he can decide for himself when it matters. Especially about me."

For some reason, Sam shivered at the title her best friend still called her brother. The way she said it wasn't a slip of the tongue. Jessica said it so naturally it was easier than saying her brother's name.

The overheating redhead's voice began to stutter as she tried to regain moisture in her mouth,

“Uh-uh…umm….”

"We'd both do anything for him, wouldn't we, Sammy? Anything at all...."

Anything? Anything for Simon…both of them?

Sam felt her body stiffen at the way Jessica's voice emphasized it, as if she had already gone that far. The blonde's excitement was evident only in the curvature of her lips,

"I can't stop dreaming of it when I'm with him. Living in your house, or him living in mine. Maybe a house of our own. Playing house for real. All of us with the same last name…calling me your sister instead of your friend or your brother's slut. I get wet thinking of calling him Darling…seeing you there with me…side-by-side."

Their lips mashed together as Sam's eyes widened. She was known for being the feisty and fiery Red Queen of Eastlake by some. The vocally toughest of her trio. And yet, Jessica's tongue barged its way in like she had for years with the front door to her home. It dragged on her tongue to make them fight, but the shock at the kiss was so surprising. A moan escaped her throat as she felt a hand stroke the front of her g-string without warning.

She felt as if she was about to lose her mind as the flood of arousal mixed with the anxiety and shock.

All someone had to do was come in to change for the studio to catch the Head Cheerleader of Eastlake kissing her. Bullying her with her lips and hands without a fight! Oh god, the ideas, the scandal. What would Simon think? What if he wanted to…

…what if he wanted to watch again? Would he like it?

Before her brain could go further down that rabbit hole, Jessica broke loose, and the smile faded. She had a look of discomfort as she looked away,

"Not yet. You aren't ready. I still can't tell you, Sammy."

The blonde turned and looked at her again with her eyes changing as Sam could do nothing but stare,

"I'll be asleep in your car when you're done."

What was she talking about? Sam stumbled as she began to rush after her best friend, still horny and scantily clad,

"Jessie…Jessie, don't leave me! What are you…."

When the door shut, the redhead bombshell's mind suddenly went blank.

What was she doing?

Her face turned beat red as she looked down and saw her distance to the door,

"…the hell?"

---

"You think it's too much, don't you?"

Simon shook his head as he managed to pull his eyes from the binder's contents. He managed a smile as he glanced up at the cheerleader, who already appeared dreaded with nerves,

"No. Do you think it is?"

Cassie quickly rubbed the back of her palms together between her legs as the bashful behavior came from the brunette almost out of nowhere,

"I'm just used to this being laughed off as part of my hobbies."

Quickly, the girl with cat-like reflexes smiled and pointed to herself,

"I'm supposed to be the spiritual artsy-type that gives us our positive mana when we compete! Gotta have that spirit to keep yourself high, after all!"

Simon stared innocently,

"Oh? I thought it was because you're not used to being questioned."

Immediately Cassie nervously smiled back in her own way,

"Y-Yeah. That too…um….”

Simon shifted his attention back to what the young woman had written out on the paper before him. He knew Cassie would be interested in the idea based on her reaction to their initial conversation alone. Simon had known of her interests only secondhand through Sam and Jessica. Cassie wasn't a hippie type who exalted the idea of homeopathic medicines and meditation crystals, but she was close in that she enjoyed the concepts of magic and mysticism. Her ability to identify the metal around his neck as the Seal of Solomon allowed Simon to move ahead with his plans.

Though he hadn't revealed what was happening, his 'idea' of genies and djinn influencing her cat-woman fantasy had sent Cassie down her own series of rabbit holes.

Especially when it came to Cats. She hadn't just taken his suggestions in the hallway. She ran with them, using references from Ancient History, competing mythologies, and modern influences to create her own fantasy of what this Cat Woman she wanted to be would be like.

'Sensing the Unseen World' was a phrase the cheerleader seemed to be hooked on.

"Hey, Simon?"

He paused, hearing Cassie speak again without waiting to ask her question,

"Do you think someone can have a dream of the future?"

Classic Cassie question out of left field. Simon let his face blank straight at her as he tilted his head in confusion,

"The future?"

"Y-Yeah, like, premonitions."

The brunette attempted to smile as she looked at him, slowly moving to invade his personal space as the spirited girl kept her hands in her lap,

"Do you think it's possible for someone to dream about something that will happen? Or would happen? Or do you think it's just the brain playing tricks on you?"

The awkward male tried to figure out her reasoning for asking the question in the first place. It seemed strange to bring up, but Cassie had a reason for bringing it up. He laughed nervously and smiled to reassure her,

"I mean, I can't say it isn't possible one way or the other. I don't believe it's like Doctor Strange, where dreams are basically when you see yourself in another universe or something. Though, I've definitely had Déjà vu."

He glanced his eyes up to see the brunette spunk fairy was barely able to contain her reaction,

"Have you had it happen to you before, Cass?"

Immediately, Simon realized he made a mistake as Cassie nearly knocked him from his chair as she banged hers against it. Her eyes were wide, and her voice filled with enthusiasm,

"Oh my gosh, yeah! No one takes me seriously, though! It's so…."

"SHH!!!"

The library worker's scolding caused the young woman's voice to stop its energetic yell and reduce it to an excited hush,

"Sorry. I just…gosh, you're so nice! No one ever wants to hear me out on this stuff because they think I played with an Ouija board too much at a Halloween Party or laugh it off like it isn't real! With all the craziness going on, I haven't told or shared it with anyone, but it's been happening much more lately, Simon. Seriously, it's so weird!"

Simon found Cassie nearly nose-to-nose with his face. As she realized it, she quickly moved back while his eyes darted away in discomfort. Again, the brunette blushed,

"S-Sorry, I just…I don't want you to think I'm some weirdo or anything. It isn't easy to describe. Sometimes they happen after I wake up; sometimes, they can be just outright silly or demented. I think I might've had something at Jessica's Birthday, or it was the gas leak, but it's been happening more frequently lately. And….”

Immediately, the awkward dork's brain stopped. Simon's hazel eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he cut the bob-cut brunette off with a question of his own,

"Do you know when you had your first premonition? Or when they started?"

The yellow blouse bounced as Cassie nearly hiccupped at how fast the question was shot back at her. Simon realized he may have said it more intensely than he wanted to let on, but a hypothesis was a hypothesis.

"Um, like…"

The cheerleader stood up from her chair and paced a bit to think about it, then sat back down to count out her fingers before stopping at her middle finger,

"I think it was when I was with everyone at Cheer Camp in June a couple of years ago. Like Tiffany, your sister, Jessica…I remember because after talking about premonitions in our bunks one night, I dreamed what breakfast would be that morning, and it came true. It wouldn't happen often, but lately, it's been nuts."

It didn't take a genius to figure out that equation.

Teenage Cassie Wish + Unwitting, Unbound Teenage Genie = Faint precognition.

"So, is it always your POV?"

"Yeah, but some of them were weird. And….”

Cassie immediately paused as her face turned pink, and she smiled,

"A little bit too…personal? Gosh. I almost did it again. You really are nice for hearing me out about this stuff, Simon. I just want to blurt everything out because you're so honest. I really like that. There are a lot of things about you that I like!"

"Like what?"

Simon watched her face turn a deeper shade of pink. The cheerleader quickly used her acrobatic skill to pull her legs up on both sides and then propped her sock-covered feet on the table,

"Uh-um…well… you're not dismissive. You'll listen to people like me, a-and you are interested in stuff I like. You're not judgmental, at least not immediately. Also, you're really nice to people without having to be asked. I know Jessica and Tiffany used to use that to trick you, but the way you ran when you thought Jess needed help? The way you never held a grudge or became resentful? I really admire that. The stuff you told me at school, I know you aren't used to talking with me, but it just…."

Cassie lifted her head, and Simon felt his cheeks warm at the sight of the smile on her face,

"I always told Sam there's something special about you, y'know?"

"Oh…."

"Jessica sees it, too. Or at least, I hope she does. I was beginning to think she was cursed…."

The teenage Master couldn't let it slide as he raised an eyebrow,

"Cursed? Why would Jess be cursed, Cass?"

Cassie Allenby's sugary energy faded away for the first time and was replaced by a sense of discomfort and pain. The slender brunette was conflicted as she wrapped her hands over her spread out knees, her head lowered,

"I never expected to become one of the popular kids when I entered high school. I mean, sure, people like me, my friends tell me I'm attractive, I'm a cheerleader because I love it, but…."

The brunette's brown eyes looked up as she managed a slight smile,

"When I stopped to think about where I belonged, I felt like an imposter sometimes. Coming from Middle School and joining the Freshman team, Sam was the first to reach out, but Jessica was the one who befriended me. She was Popular, sure, but she wasn't the Queen yet. She always included me in everything, didn't want me left out, and wanted me to feel like I belonged. There was always something about her that I couldn't explain with anything other than she was my friend. It's just…."

Simon continued to listen and watch as Cassie glanced down as she tried to hide her worried gaze,

"I knew she was acting mean; she was starting to act different. I got really stressed helping with her Birthday, but she tried to reassure me. I woke up with this feeling that something bad was going to happen. Like, I remember having this dream after her party that someone was using her to **** us…make the squad do…things…but then I woke up in the middle of the night and tried to go back to sleep, and it was so weird. Then the gas leak, practice, and I'm worried because the dreams are getting more vivid, and you are there with…."

The cheerleader laughed as she stopped herself and rubbed her head in embarrassment,

"I'm sorry, Simon. You must think I'm going crazy or should go to the doctor. I probably need…."

Simon set his cell phone in front of her before she continued, with an open contact that he had typed with her name,

"Can I get your number again? I meant to get it from Jess or my sister, but I keep forgetting to…"

Cassie held his phone as she suddenly sprang up in her chair and stood on the table with her face red as she shouted again,

"Y-Yes! S-Sure! I mean-Of Course! I-…."

"SHHH!"

The librarian angrily glared as she stood up, ready to storm over and chastise the cheerleader for her emphatic outburst of approval. Quickly, Cassie spammed her number into the contact, flipped herself off the table onto her feet, and put the phone back on the table,

"I-I should go."

Simon watched as the cat-like reflexes of the cheerleader quickly placed her shoes back on and then waved as she rushed out in a hurry,

"B-Bye, Simon!"

This was the second time he had seen her so flustered around him and having to run. She was an oddity among her group and the cheerleaders, but that wasn't bad. As the awkward boy looked at his phone to see her number, he knew that it would be easier to text from now on.

Unfortunately, before he could determine the obvious, Simon was given a text message that quickly became a phone call with Sam's profile picture. Knowing he couldn't avoid it for long, he ignored the first call to put his belongings away. His sister was probably en route with Jessica, so the reunion with his genie would be at hand. The teen paused as he realized Cassie had left her binder when she rushed to get away from the conversation and the librarian. He put it with everything else as he saddled up as Sam called again.

With his bookbag slung back over the shoulder, he moved through the lobby and toward the entrance,

"Hey."

'How fucking late were you two up last night?'

Simon blinked in surprise at his sister's sudden question. Jessica had done the routine check-in telepathically. His genie gave the update on her late morning and afternoon, saying Sam was hounding her to see if they had been having sex before the blonde made her request for clothing. Since she asked, he let her wear whatever outfit she wanted to this time.

After a quick idea popped into his head the first time, she whined and teased him until he relented. Everything seemed all right until Sam's question,

"Awhile, why?"

'Because your 'girlfriend' just had one hell of a nightmare after passing out in my car.'

"Oh…."

Simon frowned as he exhaled in understanding, the truth letting itself spill out, but not the whole truth,

"Jess has been having bad dreams whenever she falls asleep without me."

Sam's voice sighed, seemingly more understanding,

'So that's why she spent the night in your room.'

"Y-Yeah…."

'I wish you both told me sooner. Maybe I should cancel our binge night.'

"No. We're still on. Jess and I are really looking forward to it."

His sister sighed again,

'Okay…fine. And Simon?'

"What?"

'Next time, tell me you're going to do a stupid stunt ahead of time? I can't have Jess dragging you into everything crazy in her life. This stuff with her birth mom sounds pretty messed up. Especially since she wants you to still be 'Master'.'

His girlfriend's voice suddenly banged through the phone, 'SAMMY SHUT UP!'

'But you say it so naturally, Jessie!'

"I'm gonna hang up now."

With that, Simon shut his phone off as Jessica's voice echoed in his head,

'She's so mean! I've been getting interrogated all morning! Get me out of here!'

'You really wanted to hang out with me at a library for hours instead of dancing and visiting Miss Littlewood?'

The bratty side of his childhood friend whined as the genie's voice demanded in his head,

'No! That's boring! And Sammy isn't getting out of this! So tonight, I want popcorn! And for you to make me dinner again! I'll tell you what else in person!'

'See you soon, Jess.'

'Dork.'

---

Jessica glared with an overheating face and flared scowl as Samantha Harris cackled at her in an outright stupor. The redhead, her best friend, tried again to put her face together and keep composed in the car, only to stop and start cackling when she looked over at her again.

"Cosplay! YOU!"

A snort managed to escape as the former cheerleader managed to park before they could crash into something from her laughter.

"It's not that funny…."

"Are you…really? You're actually serious. Not a joke?"

The genie pouted angrily and looked away in embarrassment, "It sounded fun…."

"Oh, I hear it is, and I've thought about it before, but YOU? You and half the squad mocked some of the anime geeks relentlessly for their binge night in the library during the game last year!"

At the reminder of her bitch past, the blonde squirmed and shrunk into the seat of the car shamefully as Sam rubbed her forehead,

"You really want to give anime a chance with Simon and me, okay, that I get, but you swore to me you wouldn't be caught dead dressing up in something dorky during your Halloween party!"

The current Eastlake cheer captain curled up further as the puppy dog eyes and lips faced her attractive red-haired friend,

"But you and I dressed sexy before, though…."

"I wore a skintight suit, not next to nothing with bright colors! Jesus….”

Jessica began to poke her fingers together nervously as she shook her head and scoffed with a quick roll of her eyes. Anything to recompose herself and became defensive,

"Look, it's not even like I'm going to enjoy whatever the hell we're watching anyway! I'm humoring you and S-Simon, so…whatever! I bet I'd be better at it than you, anyway!"

The redhead froze her face into a half-smile as she rotated her head and then stared intensely at her blonde friend,

"Oh? Is that so? Okay, 'Princess,' let's make it interesting…."

Sam's face was so close that Jess felt her heart rate spike and her face grow hot. Her best friend's green-blue eyes were defiant, stubborn, and clearly aggressive. The Queen of Eastlake clenched the car seat as she felt the knot in her throat,

"S-Sammy…."

The genie managed to squeak out her friend's name as she squirmed. Sam delighted in watching the blonde's face suddenly shrink from her previous demeanor. The volleyball captain pulled away with a laugh,

"Jeez, Jessie, you're making this too easy!"

Jessica pouted as she remained a flustered, embarrassed mess in the car seat, childishly glaring at her best friend. Sam smiled and sighed in a sense of victory,

"Let's just relax tonight, okay?"

The car doors unlocked, and the former cheerleader sighed as she slid back against her seat, then motioned out the window toward the area of town around the library.

"I'll just have to hope my brother can handle himself with you around."

"Oh, he handles me perfectly," the blonde teased back with a taunting wink and a confident smirk.

"… don't say it like that."

The genie laughed as she poked out her tongue and opened the door,

"See ya later, Sammy."

"Idiots," Sam scoffed back with an amused roll of her eyes as she drove off again.

The blonde adjusted her steps and clicked her heels together as she hummed happily while she skipped toward the parking lot and library steps. Her hands clasped behind her back as the bubbly teenager knew her Master would be walking down those stairs as soon as she got there to meet him.

At least, that was the plan.

Something began to feel off. Jessica couldn't place it, but her pussy began to tingle as her nipples hardened, the hair on her neck starting to stand on end as she spun around and found herself flipping backward. The cheerleader's body instinctively reacted to something hot by doing what it did best. Only after the backflip was she spun against the brick wall of the building across the parking lot. A powerful leg between her and her arms held above her head,

"Maridallura…."

The blonde's eyes snapped open at her attacker.

A woman. An unnaturally gorgeous woman – statuesque - in a two-piece business suit and skirt with dark brown hair and ruby-red eyes. Jessica felt her realization and fright increase as the assailant pinned the genie with one hand above her by her wrist and the other against her crotch. The heat radiated against the opening to her pussy as Jessica could make out red-colored smoke from the brunette's lips as they pressed against hers without warning.

The blonde genie moaned and found her body going limp as she felt a familiar feeling. Her eyes focused only on the sight of the ruby whisp and the emerald green whisp dancing together in her body and mind.

---

'Jess?'

That was weird, Simon thought to himself as he exited the library. The teenager could've sworn that his girlfriend told him she was outside the building. As the dorkish Master went out the front door onto the stairs, something unsettled him.

As he managed to make it down the steps and toward the benches, he looked up at businesses across the street and made out the sight of his girlfriend with another woman. The two of them were against a wall, but the female on Jessica was more than familiar.

He had seen her before…that was….

It couldn't be…

Simon felt his heart rate spike without end. The teenager's eyes widened as he clenched the strap of his backpack, ready to pull his insurance policy from the second pouch, as a voice suddenly called out,

"No need for that, young man!"

The Master of Jessica found his attention and face snapping to his left as the sound of a cane tapped against the sidewalk in front of the park bench. The person holding it was a conspicuously-looking man in a worn, dark trench coat and a hood over his head, but the salt and pepper facial hair escaped. He was neither a homeless bum nor a well-kept professional. It was as much a disguise within a disguise.

"My associate is rather paranoid about being in a place like this. She has not been back here for some time, but that is the sisters' way."

Simon watched on guard as the mysterious man sat back on the bench as if motioning to join him. He clenched his fist, keeping the ring safe, as the hooded man chuckled,

"I see. You're trying to figure out what would be the best path to take and, at the same time, wondering what is happening. Well, that would make two of us, but to make things easier for you…."

Simon remained frozen as his eyes locked onto an object the man pulled from his pocket, holding it with a tanned and worn hand from labor and work.

Wrapped with his fingers was another shard.

The same Seal of Solomon.

Another piece of the broken metal that was around Simon's neck.

With an almost bemused tone, the man asked the teenager,

"Would this be of any help?"