1 Chapter 1: Back Together (1/2)
My summer was off to a fantastic start. Never before had I felt better than I did. Maybe splitting myself in half was the magic I needed all along. Half of me found himself in a relationship while the other seemed to be a magic prodigy in the making. But I had to put myself back together eventually. That night after the magic showcase was the time of reunion.
With six weeks left of Summer break, I finally put my two halves back together. Fusing two versions of myself that had grown so much over several weeks was oddly satisfying. I expected the process to be painful or uncomfortable because I got the spell from my mother, but in the end, it was harmless. It was hard to understand what it felt like being divided until I was my whole self again. I couldn't believe I managed to get away with my scheme either. I felt like a mastermind. I felt invincible. I felt the worst full-body pain in my life.
I should have waited a few nights after the showcase before putting myself back together. I was a veteran when it came to taking hard falls, but falling through a stage floor only to have Santa Claus land on my back was a new one. All I wanted to do was sleep in. Unfortunately, I had plans for early the next morning. I was supposed to meet up with Beth to start the second half of the internship. With the showcase behind us, I wasn't sure what else we'd work on exactly.
On top of that, I knew Beth couldn't cure me. My showing up wouldn't have anything to do with deals or arrangements. Was I invested enough to continue working with Beth even with no strings attached? Regardless of my verdict, I had no choice but to wake up because Wes came to see me.
I was dating my best friend. The thought of Wes and I together that way still confused me a little, but not enough to turn me off from the idea. It was Monday morning when he stopped by to check on me. We hadn't talked much since we made it back to town. To make matters worse, I was late and in a hurry to make it to the theater.
”What do you mean internship,” Wes asked as I stepped outside the house.
”I have to go see Beth today,” I said, forgetting he didn't know who Beth was.
”Beth, who?”
”I'll explain later, but I'm about to be late,” I said.
”Pitch,” he said, asking me to slow down with the sound of my name.
I didn't mean to brush him off, but I didn't know how to tell Wes about the internship without letting him know about my adventures as half a rabbit. I tried to do better.
”Why don't you come with me,” I suggested.
”To a 'magic' internship?”
The way he asked me to reiterate myself told me he wasn't interested.
”Yes,” I said.
”You know I don't do magic, but since when do you?”
”I don't think it's so bad anymore,” I said.
”We don't need magic. We are magic,” he debated.
”That's really cheesy,” I tried to joke, and it got a half laugh out of him.
”It's true,” he pressed.
He gave me an entire speech like a motivational speaker, and it touched me. It touched me deeply until I remembered who it was coming from and looked down to see he was pantsless like usual.
”You might have fun,” I tried to convince him.
”I doubt it.”
”So, you're not coming?”
”I'll see you when you're done,” he said.
”Are you sure?”
He scratched the back of his head and looked away before he answered me.
”You aren't doing this magic stuff to get away from me, are you?” he asked.
”No. Of course not. If I could, I would spend as much time as possible with you.” I tried to be convincing, but selling it might have made me come off as sarcastic.
”It just feels sudden,” he said.
”Wes, I'll see you after I'm done, I promise.”
”And you're not avoiding me?”
”Why would I avoid my favorite pantsless gym partner?”
”I don't know. You haven't said much since we got back from STR, I haven't seen you in two days...”
I had to look away. He wasn't wrong, but I wasn't avoiding him.
”I'm not being clingy, am I? I've never been in an actual relationship, so,” he started to say before I cut him off.
”Wes,” I said.
”Yea?”
”I'm not avoiding you, and you have nothing to worry about... except maybe public indecency,” I joked.
”You're really pushing for pants, aren't you,” he said with a grin.
”Is it working?”
”No, but at least I know we're still good,” he said as we walked down the driveway to the sidewalk.
There was an awkward moment when we were both obviously trying to decide how to say ”see you later” to one other. Thanks to our agreement, instead of doing an awkward hug or misplaced fist bump, Wes pulled me into a kiss reminiscent to the one we shared in the car.
The way he kissed me was always rough and hands-on. In a way, I appreciate the approach. He didn't make me feel soft or fragile or babied. There was never a moment I thought he saw me as a girl, that's for sure. Come to think of it, Wes may not have known what he was doing, but the same could have been said for me as well.
Little by little, the act was becoming less taboo, but we were standing outside. The awkwardness of being on display was enough to make me part. He let go around the same time that I did, so it wasn't a big deal. After every kiss, Wes always gave me this grin like he was physically saying, ”I told you so,” or ”I can see you liked what I did there, ” and I didn't mind because, in all honesty, I did like it.
At the peak of the moment, we shared an intimate, dare I say, romantic gaze in each other's eyes that was quickly broken when a voice startled both of us.
”You're fucking Danger Rabbit,” exclaimed a girl across the street with her friends standing close behind her.
”Fuck,” I said as the moment died.
The group of girls continued to yell from across the street, and when Wes and I started to walk away, they followed.
”Do you know those girls?” I asked as Wes and I turned a corner.
”Those are The Triplets, they might have given me head, I forget,” Wes said with such casual energy I almost thought he was joking.
”What happened to 'waiting for the right dude'?” I asked as we got further down the street.
”Head isn't sex... is it?”
”Wes,” I said.
”What? It wasn't anything serious, don't worry about it,” he said, trying to persuade me.
”Whatever, I need to get to the theater,” I restated.
Eventually, The Triplets gave up their chase, and I went on my way. I left Wes to do his own thing without getting into the history of whatever those girls shared with him. If we were keeping things below the radar or trying to take things slow, then that plan was definitely over.
I was so late. I should have given up and went home, but I already put in the effort of getting out of bed, so I stayed the course. By the time I made it to the theater, the town was up and alive. Construction workers were working to fix the damage Santa and I made during the showcase, so it took some maneuvering around to get in the building then backstage to Beth's office. She was sitting at her desk reading a book when I walked in.
”I'm sorry I'm late,” I said.
”I wasn't expecting to see you,” she replied.
Nothing more than my own motivations convinced me to show up, and those weren't always the most reliable.
”I said I'd be back.”
”Yes, you did,” she said.
She put down her book while I took off my backpack to have a seat across from her.
”So, what are we doing today?” I asked.
”Today, you'll learn a critical skill.”
I waited for her to tell me what it was, and she made me hold my breath waiting for it.
”How to take proper notes,” she said.
”That's all?” I questioned.
”After your performance Friday night, several interested parties were looking to purchase your spells.”
”That's awsome,” I exclaimed until she continued.
”Until I was forced to inform everyone that you are not yet a licensed magician,” she said.
”What difference does it make?”
She woke me up and knocked the wind out of me just as quickly. Why couldn't things ever just be simple?
”Without a license, you can't legally distribute spells. Furthermore, you would be liable for any damages or misuse of spells you sold without a contract.”
”Then I'll get a license,” I said confidently.
After beating Santa, a world-class magician, in a fight, I guess my ego was a bit puffed up.
”You think you're ready for a license,” Beth asked as though I were suggesting nuclear codes.
”I know how to write a spell now, I know how to do bindings,” I said in an attempt to persuade her.
”But have yet to complete any,” she refuted.
”I will...eventually, I'm better than all the other interns, Friday night proved as much,” I debated.
”You know nothing about handicap spells, potions, natural or unwritten magic, and you know only a single language.”
I rolled my eyes but understood the point she was making.
”Fine, I get it,” I said.
She chuckled at my being humbled.
”There is a way for you to make a profit before having a license,” she added.