Jelly Janna 3

Star was on a phone call with Princess Pony head, worriedly gnawing on her wand.

“And so now Marco is going out with Jackie, but JANNA likes him, and she even KISSED him! I just want to try to help to make sure Marco doesn’t get hurt, but I don’t know...”

“Dang, girl. How did that little turd get so popular with the ladies? He’s got like, noodle-arms.”

“Hey, Marco is a GREAT guy,” snapped Star. Then she blushed. “Plus, you haven’t seen him with his shirt off. He’s not noodly...he’s...what’s the word….lithe.”

Princess pony head raised a confused eyebrow at Star.

“He’s kinda hot, okay.”

“Now YOU sound like you’re interested in him.”

“No!” cried Star. “The whole point of him having a gee-eff is so that I’m not putting his life in danger all the time! He’s kind of...changed, ever since Toffee almost crushed him to death. I think he’s a little bit crazy, now.”

“Oh girl, he’s not crazy, he just had a little brush with death. It just changes your perspective, is all. I mean, I wouldn’t know, being an immortal flying pony head, but that’s what I hear. But if this made him popular with the ladies, who cares? So he’s got multiple girlies going for him. Good for him! Why does it make you worry so much?”

Star groaned, stalking away from the mirror, and then tripping over a pile of her dirty clothes. “I don’t know,”  she said, dusting herself off. “Maybe I should stop worrying so much. I just don’t want Janna to end up hurt, either. I mean, Marco’s completely oblivious to her. But there’s not really anything I can do, is there? I already asked Hope to make sure Janna doesn’t do anything stupid. That’s really all I can do.”

“Yeah girl, that’s the spirit. Who cares, right? They’re all humans, anyway! Who cares!”

“That’s...not really what I meant, but okay. Sorry PP, but I have to go now. I can’t find my spellbook...”

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Janna lay across her bed forlornly, stuffing spoonfull after heaping spoonful of pudding into Glossaryck's face as she flipped idly through Star's spellbook."What is it you do inside the book all day, Ryck?" she asked, frowning at page after page of runes that she couldn't understand.

"Read. Learn the spells. Meditate on their meaning. I mean, I'm not really 'inside' the book all the time, kid. I've got like, ten different personal dimensions I can hop into from there."

"Really?"

"Uh huh. One dimension is just a gigantic bathtub, one's my personal garden, and one is made entirely of naked....uh....well, I'll tell you about that one when you're older."

"Wait, naked what?"

"Uh - hey, so kid, why are you looking so down? It's boy trouble, isn't it? It always is at this age. You ARE a teenager, right? It can be so hard to tell with some species."

Janna looked away, not saying anything.

"C'mon, you can tell me, I can relate. I mean sure, I'm immortal, and so old that personal connections to other people have lost all meaning and context for me, and I've probably been single longer than your planet has existed, but I've been in love before. Who is it?"

Janna sighed, flipping through the book once again, kicking her feet in the air. "It's Marco. You know, Star's friend."

"What, really? That shmuck? Jeez, there really is no accounting for taste, is there?"

"He's on another date with his crush right now," Janna said, ignoring him. "But...he used to be my friend, when we were younger. And ever since then I've felt this...I don't know, I guess I've always had this crazy idea that we were going to be together forever? I guess I always assumed from the minute I met him that he was going to be there. And there's just...something about him. I don't know, I can't describe it. But he's always on my mind, and I want to be with him forever. Isn't that love?"

Glossaryck snorted. "Trust me, kid. You don't want to be with anyone FOREVER. Once you've taken the first few steps on the path to immortal enlightenment and power, you kind of stop caring about anything at all, really. But no, I get it," he said, seeing Janna roll her eyes. "Listen, you've been great. I've never eaten so much pudding. I mean, sure, I could incorporate a dimension entirely made of pudding if I wanted, but I like it when other people do things for me. How about I show you a love spell or two?"

Janna's eyes widened, startled for a moment, and she slowly sat up, backing away from the spellbook and the little floating blue man. "What....KIND of love spells?" she asked. "I mean...I learned some from my mom..."

"Oh yeah, that hocus-pocus nonsense that passes for 'magic' on earth. Gives vague results, right? 'In time, the one you love will come to you.' Yeah, none of that. My magic's the real deal, instant results. What do you want? Eternal devotion? Loyalty? Something even kinkier? I can do it all."

Janna felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach. Yes, that was exactly what she wanted, in fact. But..."Isn't that....kinda wrong?"

"Oh, right and wrong are just WORDS, Janna," said Glossaryck, floating right next to her ear. "Think about it. You only live once. You get just one chance at life. Is it really so wrong to maximize your happiness in that time? I mean, think of all you might be missing out on if you DON'T get him. It's not like you're going to abuse him, right? Why not?"

Janna looked deep into herself. She let herself explore all the thoughts that she normally tried her best to keep bottled up. She let herself imagine what it would be like to live a life with Marco, to grow old with him, how sweet, how amazing it would be to have someone she loved so dearly by her side for life. Glossaryck was right, too. She'd never abuse his love, she'd only return it in the greatest manner she could imagine. She imagined the pain she'd feel if she lost Marco forever to Jackie, or to anyone else, really. Slowly drifting apart from him after high school. Not seeing him for years, decades at a time. Only getting the sad occasional update during high school reunions or something. She couldn't possibly imagine NOT caring about him. Would it really be wrong to use magic to prevent that kind of pain? Wouldn't it be best for Marco, too? No one else loved Marco like she did. All the magic would really be doing would be correcting his vision, wouldn't it? Was that so wrong?

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, snapping Janna out of her reverie. She looked at her hands. They were shaking. Glossaryck floated idly over to the window. "Oh, it's your friend Hope," he said, filing his nails. "Look, you don't have to make the decision now, I can do it whenever. Think about it, if you have to." And in a flash of blue smoke, he was gone.

A few moments later, Hope appeared in the doorway of her bedroom. "Hey Janna, your mom let me in. Are you okay?"

Janna realized she was still frozen, sitting up on her bed. "Uh...yeah, yeah, I'm fine. What's up?"

"Well, I know Marco and Jackie are on their second date now, so I figured I'd come by the prevent you from doing anything stupid."

Janna got angry for a moment, but then she thought back to what she had just been about to do. "I....wasn't going to do anything stupid," she muttered, still a little annoyed. "So...I mean what did you want to do? I'm kind of bored."

"I was thinking we could drop by the mall and do a little shopping."

Janna wrinkled her nose. "Shopping? C'mon, Hope, you know I don't like to shop."

"Yes," Hope replied. "I'm very aware. That's why all your clothes are so old. But what I do now, I do as your friend."

Janna sat, confused, as Hope went to her drawers and picked out one of Jannas's skirts. Then she walked to the window and held up the skirt in front of it, and Janna gasped. "Your skirts are getting so old and worn," Hope explained, "That you can see right through some of them when the sunlight hits them just right."

Janna blushed furiously. "Oh my god," she mumbled. "I....I didn't even think....oh my god, everyone must have noticed!"

"Don't worry, the sunlight has to hit them JUST right. But still, I figured I should let you know. I don't think anyone has noticed but me. But it IS noticeable."

"How noticeable?"

"Noticeable enough for me to know you wear some really risky underwear to go along with a skirt this short."

Janna gasped and pulled her beanie down over her head.

"Janna...."

"I'm dead. Let my shame burn me alive. Let it all end."

"I'm sorry Janna, I didn't mean to be so harsh. I just knew you wouldn't go shopping unless I pointed it out."

Janna let out a muffled groan in reply.

"So, do you want to go shopping?"

"Fine. Fine. Just....uh....let me get changed, first."

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Inside the department store, Hope smiled as Janna tried to contain her excitement. She knew her friend well. She might not like the idea of shopping, but Janna had a bit of a childish nature to her where she got excited over the simple fact of buying something new. She might try to hide it, but it was undeniable.

Janna had changed, ditching her skirt for a pair of very, very short jean shorts. Hope shook her head. She knew Janna kind of took pride in being a bit of a tomboy, but it seemed like there were some ways in which she couldn't help but subconsciously show off her femininity. Showing off her legs seemed to be part of that. She almost laughed as Janna saw a rack of tiny skirts and made a beeline right for them.

Janna glanced at Hope as her friend caught up with her. "Uh...yeah, these are cool, I guess," she said, pretending to be disinterested, as she shoveled the skirts into her cart.

Hope was picking out some blouses she liked when she heard Janna laugh. "Hey Hope, check this out."

Janna was holding a large, somewhat bulky sweater, pretty typical, except that on the front were stitched two hand designs placed to look like they'd be cupping the wearer's breasts. "You think I'd get in trouble if I wore this to school?" Janna smirked.

"Maybe if you actually had breasts for those hands to be grabbing," Hope replied.

Janna glared at her. "Screw you, I'm getting it anyway. I'm gonna go try this on."

Hope followed her friend to the changing room. After a small wait, Janna reappeared, wearing the sweater and one of her new skirts. "How's it look? Amazing? Yeah, I know."

Hope considered for a moment. "I don't know. It's good, but something's missing. Here, hold on, try this beanie I found."

"Hope WAIT," Janna cried, as Hope reached up and grabbed her beanie off her head.

There was a FOOMP sound, and Hope stared in wonder as piles upon piles of Janna's hair pushed themselves out from beneath her beanie, falling down to her waist.

"Oh my god, Janna, I had no idea your hair was this long. And it's so thick! How the hell did you get it beneath your beanie?!"

"Man it's gonna take me HOURS to get it all stuffed back in there," Janna muttered.

"Is...is that why you never take your beanie off?" Suddenly Hope took a step back. "Wait. Janna...you look amazing."

"Yeah, of course I do," Janna said smugly, until she noticed how Hope was staring at her. "Stop it dude, you're embarrassing me," she said, blushing.

"No, really, this is a really, really good look for you. Hold on, let me just get some makeup-" Hope began rummaging in her purse.

"Oh no, no, no makeup, I-"

"Okay, Janna, first off, I know you use eyeliner, so let's skip the part where you say this is some sort of principled stand against makeup or something," Hope said, brush in her hand. Janna's mouth snapped shut. "Second, I'm not gonna paint it on or anything, just a couple of subtle touches. Wouldn't it be cool to try something new?"

Janna was about to protest again, but Hope's last words struck her. "Actually, you know what? Yeah, it would be fun to try something cool. Okay, go ahead."

She sat as still as she could while Hope applied the makeup. After a few moments, Hope stepped back, staring at her.

"So? How does it look? You didn't paint me up like one of your whores, did you?"

Hope just continued staring at her intently. Slowly, she grabbed her smartphone from her bag and began taking pictures.

"Dude, what the heck? Say something."

"Janna," Hope said quietly, "In a few years you're really going to drive them wild."

Janna blushed, and turned to look at herself in the dressing room mirror. She was taken aback by what she saw. She had always had a fairly good self-image, always though of herself as fairly good-looking, but the person staring back at her from the mirror was beyond that. The person in the mirror was beautiful.

But in the manner of beauty, Janna couldn't quite see the depths of what Hope saw. Janna thought she looked good. Hope knew hers was the type of beauty that would make people turn their heads and stare.

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Janna wore her new sweater out of the store. After they dropped off their new purchases at their homes, she and Hope decided to go out for dinner at a burger place. While they laughed and joked and ate, Janna became aware of some older boys in the diner turning their heads to look at her. For the first time she could remember, she became very self-conscious about just how short her skirt was. One of the boys even came up to them to make some small talk and subtly ask for her number.

"Wow," said Janna, after Hope had sent him away. "I....I never had that happen to me before."

"Told you you looked good," said Hope.

After dinner, they walked around the park for a while, as the sun slowly began setting in the sky.

"I should be getting back soon," Hope said, eventually, after their conversation had died down a bit. "I have homework, and -"

Suddenly, she was startled by Janna sweeping in to embrace her. Her friend's long dark hair surrounded her face, feeling almost like a cocoon.

"Janna-" she gasped.

"Hope, thank you so much for coming by to cheer me up today," Janna whispered.

"It's...no problem." The dying sunlight was glinting off of Janna's dark eyes, making them seem like dark pools with red stars glittering deep within. Hope found herself lost in those eyes.

"No, seriously. You're such a good friend, Hope. I haven't even thought about Marco at all today, thanks to you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"It's really nothing," Hope murmured, feeling weak in the knees. Her heart was fluttering in her chest, and all she could see, all she could hear, was the dark, sweet enchantment of Janna, of her friend's face so close to hers, embracing her, the mysterious fire in her eyes.

"Can you promise me something?"

"What?"

"Can you promise we'll be friends forever? I just want to know there'll be someone always there, that I've known forever. You know?" There were the beginnings of tears in Janna's eyes now. "I'll always be there for you, okay? No matter what. For life, okay? Can you promise me the same? Please?"

"Of course, Janna," Hope whispered. "I love you."

Janna smiled, the sweetest smile Hope had ever seen, and her heart soared. "I love you too, you dork."

And then Janna's hands were on her face, she was leaning in, and her large, dark eyes filled Hope's vision. Hope's mind went blank, and her heart felt like it might burst out of her chest, as Janna pulled her down and kissed her on the cheek.

"See you tomorrow!" she cried, and suddenly her embrace was gone, the spell was broken, and she was off, taking the separate path back to her house, her long, dark hair flowing in the breeze, and she was so achingly beautiful that once she was out of sight, Hope, feeling hollow, sat down and began to cry.

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On the path back to her house, Janna had to cross a small bridge looking out over a stream. It was gorgeous at this time of day, ringed by lush, green trees, the setting red sun turning the stream below to liquid fire.

There was someone on the bridge, leaning against the railing, someone hard to see against the glare of the setting sun. It wasn't until Janna was a few feet away that she saw it was Marco.

He was shirtless, his lithe, muscular body slick with sweat and...blood? Blood, running down from his shoulder. He was leaning over the railing, looking down at the stream below.

"Marco?" Janna said, unable to help herself.

He turned, and for a moment, his flashing eyes, the blood, the sweat, his body, all framed by the red flame of the setting sun, all were so striking, so breathtaking in their effect that Janna felt her legs weaken. Royal, she thought. He looks royal. Kingly.

And suddenly he gave a smile and the effect was gone, though he was still very handsome.

Marco, for his part, had turned only to see before him the most gorgeous stranger, long dark hair reflecting the light like a halo of flame, a face full of mischief and dark mystery, huge, dark eyes, and in that moment seeming so full of grace it gave his heart pause.

"Janna...? Is that you?"

"Uh...yeah."

"Wow. You look...great."

Janna felt her heart flip in her chest. "Yeah, uh...I went shopping today. Are....are you okay?"

Marco stared at her for a moment, and then seemed to snap out of it. "Oh. Oh yeah, I just came back from my second date with Jackie. She was teaching me how to skateboard and I, uh, kinda bit the dust a few times."

"You're bleeding," Janna said, and before she could stop herself, she had reached out to touch the blood running down Marco's shoulder.

"Yeah, well...I didn't bring my first aid kit. I didn't want Jackie to think I was a dork. Aw, man, now you've got my blood on your hands."

Janna stared at her bloody fingertips, was overcome with a crazy urge, and screamed to herself, DON'T LICK IT, DON'T LICK IT, DON'T LICK IT. "Is there a reason why you're wearing not wearing a shirt?"

Marco gestured to his shirt, draped over the railing next to him. "It was a lot of work and I'm hot as hell. Is there a reason why you're wearing a sweater?"

"It's new," Janna said, still distracted, willing herself to wipe off the blood on the railing. Then she placed her own hands over the hands on the sweater, stuck out her chest, and smirked. "You like it, Diaz?"

"Maybe if you actually had some breasts for those hands to grab."

"What the hell," Janna snapped. "I still think it looks good."

"No, it does," Marco said, laughing. "No, like I said, you look really good. You look great."

"So do you," Janna babbled automatically in reply. Marco raised an eyebrow. "Bloody and sweaty is a really good look for you." Marco raised his other eyebrow. Oh god, Janna thought to herself. Just shut up now. "Maybe some leather would complete the effect." IDIOT, Janna screamed to herself. IDIOT, IDIOT, IDIOT, STUPID IDIOT. But Marco just laughed.

"Well, whatever boy it is you have a crush on, you should use this look while talking to him. I bet he wouldn't be able to resist."

Around Diaz, it was like her mind turned into a chaotic storm of mischief. Janna was fighting the urge to grab him, pull him close, to feel those muscles hard against her, to kiss him, to push him off the bridge, to slap him, to lick his wound, to say something weird, to lift up her skirt and flash him, to steal his wallet, to tickle him, to stomp on his toe, to kick him in the balls, to guide his hands onto the hands on her sweater, to steal his shirt -

"I...I gotta get back home," muttered Janna, brushing past him. Marco flinched as he felt her fingers slide across his abs by mistake. He watched her run off, and for the first time, he couldn't help but appreciate her long legs flashing in the darkness, her hair flowing in the wind. She really was beautiful.

It wasn't until she was gone that Marco noticed she had stolen his shirt.