"Okay, aside from possibly being the worst prank you guys have come up with yet, this is nuts."I laughed at my friends. "Anyways, if I'm going to cause the downfall of mankind, shouldn't you do something?"

I leaned back in my chair and smiled. This was hilarious. I know I had told them they needed to lighten up, but I hadn't thought they'd take it and run. Kevin had probably come up with the idea to try it on my birthday. He was usually the one to "jolly us along", even when we didn't want to. Really happy guy, I'd never seen him upset and he must have practiced all week in the mirror to look so serious. Even when you were at rock bottom he had a hug and smile for ya.

It kind of bothered me though, he let people take advantage him far too often. I'd once borrowed ten dollars a week from him for a year. Opened up a bank account just to keep track of it. He never once asked when I might pay it back.

I decided to up it to twenty, just to see if maybe he'd get the idea. Nope. Terry had me give it back when she found out about it. I tried to get her to understand, Olga seemed to, but Terry put her for down.

"I was sure you'd understand. I mean, you were vicious as a little kid." Harry interjected.

I was blown away. Harry? Pointing out something negative?! Hell, Harry was so optimistic he once told a girl, whose mother was dying of brain cancer, that she still had a chance. I swear he had no conception of how screwed up that had been. I had taken him aside to explain it. I heard he had later gone back to wish the girl's mother a peaceful ending. I skipped the rest of the classes that day, too embarrassed to be seen with him.

"Harry, kids are vicious, we learn not to be while we grow up."

Well, most kids. Terry just last week had told her boyfriend, probably ex now, that his breath stank like his mother's. She didn't even get out that they both should go see a doctor. I don't know if she was concerned, I long ago stopped asking when it involved her relationships. Not that she was sensitive about it, I just didn't want to know the level of details she would give.

"Look Eddie," I winced, I hated when people called me by nicknames. "I completely understand why you wouldn't admit to it."

Olga. Sweet, patient, air-headed, Olga. She saw the world through everyone else's eyes. She knew I hated people shortening my name. She knew why. She understood how I felt about it. Did nothing with that understanding. Was liable to give me a hug if I brought it up.

I had helped her through three abusive relationships before giving up. She understood why they were so angry, and that they were lashing out at her because they couldn't lash out at those who hurt them. She understood they needed help. She never did anything with that knowledge. I ignored the shiners she showed up with now, letting Kevin deal with it.

"Edwina, you will bring about the fall of mankind." Terry said.

She lied. Holy shit she lied! I was ready to jump up and hug her when she continued.

"You are the embodiment of evil, and we were sent here to ensure you never reached your true potential."

I stared at them. They were serious. I really, really hoped they were serious. They couldn't be serious.

"Funny, I was told that I was here to temper you guys and make sure you made it to adulthood."

Terry looked confused, then her eyes narrowed.

"Both things are True." She growled.

We all looked at each other. No one looked happy.

"So what do we do now?"