THE MUSE GANG

Chapter twenty two

Chapter twenty-two
I dropped my hands from my chest in worry and confusion, wondering what we were going to do now.
I wasn't the only one with my eyes wide, practically the whole clan.
Well as always, except Marshall.
He snapped his fingers and the dude vanished away. Well that was graceful.
Marshall tried some others and this went on for a while I even had to pick up coffee and watch the show. The guys meant to replace me were either too fat, too tall, too short... Or excessively weird. Like there was even one who came on with his lips pouted. Marshall just disrupted a kissing booth. Was there any limit to his invasion of privacy. Making random males teleport from wherever they were around the world just so he could find someone to replace me. Even making them leave all atrocity they were doing. The last one was punching the air vigorously when he came by, crouching over.
Seemed he really had someone annoying pinned to the floor and beating the hell outta him. Well that could wait and I wasn't sorry for it.
When he realized he wasn't beating somebody, he bent upwards and stood up straight, gasping and analysing all six individuals he could see, "Who are you people? What's happening?"
We all clamped  up with a smirk and looked him up and down. He was just right, the height, stature, colour, size and pose. Everything... Was mine. What was left now was his face which I was going to take care of.
I hadn't still answered his question. Neither did I plan to. Stalking up to him, I placed my hand on his shoulder and grinned, "I need you to act like me for a few days."
It was after I said that I realized I was too straight to the point for someone this confused.
He tilted his head with a big frown, "What?! Did you bring me here?"
I pointed at him with a mischievous little snicker, "You can say that. Think of me as...." I looked at Marshall who mused an idea into my head. I resumed speech, "As a wizard! Yes.. a wizard who wants to make you rich for a small task."
"Wizard?" He asked reasonably.
My grin never left my face, as evil as it was, "Yes. Exactly. It's all magic!" I did a thing with both my hands that was supposed to be some magician's pose.
He raised his chin but never kept his eyes off me, "Okay?" He nodded for me to continue.
And continue I did, " I am in a little mess that I need to solve. Could you go home and pretend to be me for a few days... until I solve this.... Mess"
He shrugged. Seemed it didn't take long for him to get used to the existence of magic, "But how exactly? I look nothing like you."
Placing both hands on his shoulders, I smiled sweetly, "You can fight. That's a start. And secondly, I have the magic here. If you agree to this, I can make you look something like me in less than two seconds."
He analysed me for while, then the others, trying to make if this was a con or not. Still with that doubtful frown, he asked, "That still doesn't make us alike. I mean you are some magical freak, I'm a store attendant ready to go into a fight with creepy customers."
"So you were fighting with your very own customer, "it wasn't part of the plan but by God, I had to ask.
He nodded, "Makes us so different you see."
I got his weird point, making me fold my arms over my chest and think for a while.
Marshall slapped his forehead and rasped, "This is where your diary comes in."
I nodded to my replica as though I thought of the plan myself, "I'd teach you some things, " he raised a brow making me correct myself, "many things I suppose. I could also hand you my diary and phone number if you aren't satisfied. Anytime you get into a tight spot, you call me.
He calmed down and tried to reason with me. However he still sighed softly, "I dunno mehnn. Doesn't this seem weird to you?"
"I'll pay you," money always worked right. Gotta admit though it really seemed weird to me.
He shook his head and shrugged for the millionth time, "How did you even find me?"
"500 pounds," I tempted, trying to stop him from asking those questions.
The dick still went on, "Who are you people?"
"One grand, " that was all I had to say to make this dude shut up and look at me in wonder.
I repeated with my hands on his shoulders, "One whole grand."
And then he fell for the temptation like I swore he would, "Where do I start?"
"Good," I grinned. You don't always need to know where the money is from before you take it.
I put out my hand. After a moment, my diary teleported from home and appeared on it.
"Woah!" The dude gasped, "How did you do that?"
Was I really gonna start explaining the whole magic thing to a mere human, "Just concentrate on what you have to do. Impress me, "I shrugged, "and I may double your pay."
He snickered, placing his hands on his waist. After looking at me for a while, he shook his head, "Well you've come to the right person."
I hoped so.
Afterwards, we stood before the large mirror in the room, covered his face with a cloth and closed my eyes. I don't know exactly who muses prayed to but I just prayed. Some seconds after, when I had taken the cloth off his face, it looked like I was looking into a mirror. My very own identical twin in a stranger I knew not as little as his name.
He seemed to gawk at his new image in the mirror, touching his face to see if it was real, "I don't believe it."
Neither did I. At the party, my muse was helping. But now it seemed hosts had some abilities as well on their own.
"I'd turn you back to normal soon as I'm back," I assured him.
He frowned at me , then analysed himself in the mirror one more time before saying, "Do I really wanna be turned back to normal?"
I glanced at his reflection and shook my head, "Darn it! You're right. I'm too cute."
" Meaning I can keep the face?"
" No!" I rushed to say, "that's my pretty face you scum."
He smiled a bit and went through my diary, turning to face all of us and saying, "Okay I'm ready."
Mehhnn, gotta admit, I liked this dude. He learned fast, "What's your name?"
He replied with a wink, "Edward Hanson."
My friends cheered while I smiled at him. But we weren't done, were we?
I tipped my head up to him again, "How old are you?"
"Seventeen," he replied but noticed I was still not satisfied with his answer. Quickly, he went through my diary again and looked at me with a smile, then added, "-ish."
At that, I smiled and nodded, "Good job. Now... What's your role in life?"
He shrugged nonchalantly and answered, "Normal, stupid, nerd, underdog."
Now for the last and ultimate question I could swear he was so gonna fail.
I eyed him and rushed my words, "How.... Do you pee?"
He replied with the same speed and a smirk, "A leg on the seat."
Ahhhhh, "I like you." I told him.
Now he laughed shortly, "This is so gonna be fun. When am I going?"
I thought and glanced at Fred, "I think it should be now. Go through that diary some more, would you."
He nodded.
Fred got my message and snapped his fingers. At that, he teleported my replacement to my room.
Now that's settled. Oxford here we come.
This part was supposed to be some dramatic scene close if it was a movie.
But Chris just had to spoil it and keep talking, "You pee with a leg on the toilet seat? Mehnnn you sure we ain't brothers?"
"You both are stupid." Marshall sighed and began blowing walking away.
However, I gave Chris a fist bump.
***
Just before our trip, we all went shopping. Hosts and.... Muses?
Well ghosts also needed some things huh. The bill was on Fred. Somehow, he was rich.
The mall in Norwich was grand and classic.
You needed to see us try new clothes on. Those that suited and those that didn't. Like looking at little Edna put on a pair of baggy shorts that were three times her size, and Chris in dark sunglasses. Okay that was even scarier than a nagging husband.
The only other muse to compete being hot with Clinton was mine of course; Marshall. He had this suit on and a large flowing coat above all.
While he stared into the mirror, I came by his side and patted him supportively.
He just smiled and looked at me, "Please take off that pair of shoes. Makes you look like an elf."
I looked down on what I had chosen, then back at his entire outfit. Shit! What the hell was my problem.
Angela had the best taste when it came to the girls. I mean look at that bra.... And there I was again, peeping as she was trying new clothes on. That's when I noticed the bra wasn't an outfit she chose.
Clara gave me a spank there, "If you wanna talk to her, you go face her. You chicken."
I wasn't really buying anything, just going around looking at what the rest were buying.
And here goes Anthony being stupid again. What did he need a million pairs of socks for when he chose no other outfit to wear them with. Just..... Socks!!
I know who you've all been waiting for. I reached Clinton. Well he possessed David so he could just be able to annoy humans with his visible self.
He was with the sales person. He would applaud a particular attire stacked deep in the shelf and tell the man to get it out.
After minutes of the sales man faking smiles and trying to get the outfit out, the cheeky muse would turn around and find something else he liked better which was also stacked deep somewhere in another shelf of clothes.
Then the entire cycle went on again. To me, cheeky was an understatement. I'd refer to such people as a pain in the ass.
But they all were my friends, and I was never ever going to leave them like that again. And this time, I mean it.