“I’m Z.”
Jess stared. With a groan, Z turned into the black beauty known as Zella, then back into the guard again.
“Satisfied?” Z demanded. “Look, I always have a ‘Z’ on me, no matter who I look like ok? Learn to look for that.”
“Just because you always know who you are, doesn’t mean the rest of us do.”
“This is not the time,” Taylor cut in. “Angela isn’t it? This is a, uhh, new friend of ours. Z. Obviously, she’s one of us too.”
“She?”
“Shape shifters have no problems with turning into the opposite sex. Isn’t that right Ike?”
“Taylor, you’re just jealous you’re never gonna be a real boy. No matter how many stars you wish upon.”
“Not Pinocchio too, Ike?” Zac groaned.
“If we had it, I watched it,” he replied with a shrug.
“Can we get back to business here?” Z cut in. “Angela. Has anyone tried to figure out what other powers you might have?”
“N-no.”
“Ok-”
“What was wrong with your back anyway?” Zac asked.
Angela took a breath and then turned slightly. Two long vertical slits had been purposely cut in the back of her shirt and protruding from them were two wings, although too small to actually let her fly right now. At a distance they appeared to be a transparent white, much like an insects wings, but up close the veins were boldly coloured. They also had multiple folds.
Z stepped forward and stared hard into Angela’s eyes for a moment, frowning.
“Flight, I would say. Growing wings is not an uncommon mutation for this power.”
“Z, you’re making her nervous,” Taylor spoke up.
Z stepped back silently.
“Have they been growing in spurts?” Z asked.
Angela nodded.
“How often?”
“This is the third one this week.”
Z was silent, as if digesting that.
“Do you think I could trigger her like I did Dan?” Zac asked Z.
Z was quiet so long, Zac wondered if she, uhh, he, had even heard him.
“How old are you Angela? Have you noticed anything else weird?”
“I’m seventeen. And I... no I don’t think I have,” but she said this uncertainly.
“Don’t trigger her, Zac,” Z said. “I suspect she’s too far into the mutation. Your wings will probably be full grown by next Wednesday. Have you told anyone?”
“I think my dad suspects something.”