The Prophecy

“Jealous much? Not my fault your flexibility sucks!”

We both stood up, warily watching each other while looking for an open area to attack. Okay, she's a leftie, so if I sweep in with a left uppercut, maybe I can decapitate the fuc—

“What the fuck is wrong with your eyes?” Her voice had turned odd, almost frightened. It sliced through my anger, leaving me feeling dizzy.

“Huh?”

“Your eyes, dumb ass. What's wrong with them? They're the wrong color.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I felt shock course through my body.

She gestured toward the reflective surface of the display case. “See for yourself.”

“No, I'm not falling for that shit.”

“I'm being serious! Just look for fucks sake!” she took a couple steps back and raised her hands in surrender. ''I promise I won't finish kicking your ass until after you look.”

“Dude, you weren't kicking my ass! The only reason you got that shot in is because you're a damn midget!”

“Just shut up and look already! You're starting to creep me out! And I am NOT a midget!”

“Fine! I don't know what you're freaking out about but this shit is ridiculous!” I stomped over to the display and eyed Rose's proximity. Seeing my suspicion, she took another couple of steps back. Satisfied, I peered quickly into my reflection. I felt tendrils of ice work its way through my system as I stood there in shock. Those weren't my eyes.

“I told you it was creepy!” she moved closer, looking at my reflection.

Where normally my jewel toned violet eyes only had flecks of gray, they were now almost a liquid silver, burning in its intensity. Not a spot of violet could be seen. As the darkness abated, quickly replaced by fear, the gray started to recede. It slowly turning back to the normal, violet tone I was used to.

“What the hell is going on in here?”

We jumped back and looked guiltily at Mary Beth.

“What have you two done? If you think I'll allow any fighting on my clock you are sadly mistaken!”

“Mom! She started—''

“I did not! You're the one that's been a total bit—''

“I. Do. Not. Care. That is more than enough from both of you! Rosemary, lock the doors and turn over the closed sign. Starlette, you wait right here until she returns.” She crossed her arms angrily over her small frame.

I paced angrily back and forth. Yes, we shouldn't have fought, but I had more important things to worry about. Like my eyes changing a different color. I was beyond freaked and just wanted to go home, but I'd be damned if Rose put the blame solely on my doorstep. As Rosemary came back into sight, Mary Beth continued. “Both of you will spend the remainder of today cleaning. There will not be one item out of place or one speck of dust marring this store, do you understand me?” I looked over at Rose and could tell by her stunned eyes that she was just as shocked as I was over Mary Beth's sharp tone.

“At the end of the night, you will both report to me. Rosemary, you know where the cleaning supplies are, show Star. Both of you will work together, and if I hear so much as a peep from either of you, or one of those foul curse words again, so help me God there will be consequences. Severe consequences.”

She turned on her heel and stormed off, her multitude of flowing skirts snapping behind her. We both stared after her in stunned silence.

“Huh, momma's got backbone.”

“Oh shut up and let’s get to work. The faster we get this over with, the faster I can get away from you.” She stormed off toward the back room, leaving me behind to follow.

I was scrubbing down the counters while Rosemary was straightening up the tables and chairs that were thrown about.

“How, exactly, did all of this happen?” She asked without looking at me.

“I don't know.”

She stopped and sat down in one of the chairs, looking at me with a puzzled frown. “How do you not know? I mean, shit. This,” she gestured around the destruction of the store, “is flipping insane.”

I stopped and sighed, turning to lean against the counter. I folded my arms protectively against myself, refusing to meet Rose's gaze. “Okay, so when two people hate each other very much, they get a strong urge to beat the shit out of one another.”

She ran her hands threw her short hair while groaning in frustration. “Look, I'm being serious here! I've never seen anything like this happen, and quite frankly, I'm freaked out.”

I looked down at the floor and started to twist my hair around my hands. “I know. I'm just as freaked out as you, even if I've had more time to deal with this.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Things— look, this is going to sound insane, but I really don't know how to explain it. Things just seem to happen around me. My mother calls them my little 'incidents'. I don't know how, or why they happen. They just do. Okay?” I glared at Rose and went back to cleaning.

We headed to the office after finishing. I rapped lightly against the frame and we waited for Mary Beth to answer. We jumped back as she threw open the door, her glare stunning in its coldness. I had never felt so belittled before by a single look. All the snarky comments died on my tongue as I froze under that icy glare.

“Is all the cleaning done?”

“Yes ma'am.” We replied in unison.

“Good. Now, that's not the end of your punishment. Until the two of you can get along, you will both be on the same shifts. That will be rather easy to do with school starting in a couple of weeks. You will take breaks together, work on the same projects together, and from the time you enter until the time you leave you will remain glued to each other’s sides. Do you understand me?”

“Mom, this is ridiculous!”

“Seriously ma'am, this isn't going to work! We can't stand to be near each other!”

She held up her hand for silence and waited until we were done talking over each other. “It will work. I won't have any more fighting from you two. Until you guys can learn to get along, that's the way it's going to be. Now Starlette, you can go ahead and clock out and head home. Here's your schedule for the next two weeks. Rosemary, head upstairs. I may be your boss while you're on the clock, but I'm your mother when we get home, do you understand?”

“Jesus mom! This is like double jeopardy! You shouldn't be able to punish me twice! And what about Star? She just gets off so easily?” She was practically yelling at her mother. She started muttering to herself about the injustice of it all as she stormed off a small distance and began pacing.

“Oh no, dear. I've already called Stars mother and informed her of the incident. I'm sure she'll hear all about it when she gets home.”

The grin that was tempted to break across my face died instantly. “Oh come on! You didn't have to call her!”

“Yes, I did. It's done, so you better get used to it. Your mother is waiting for your return.”

“Great. Just fuc—”

“Language Star!”

“Flipping great!”

“Yeah, not so happy now, are you?”

“Shut up Rose!” I stormed out and tried slamming the door behind me, but it was useless. Swinging doors don't make good objects to take your frustrations out on. I jumped out of the way, nearly being knocked over by the door attacking me.

On the drive home I went over and dismissed everything I could say to my parents to make them understand. I knew that regardless of what I said they'd still flip out on me. So I began to think of all the things I could do to Rosemary in retaliation for getting me into this mess. True, it wasn't entirely her fault, but if she wasn't such a bitch to begin with then I wouldn't have lashed out. Well, at least I hoped I wouldn't have. With how hectic my emotions were lately, there was a high possibility that I would have eventually. With happy thoughts of