Wild Magic

by Madeline Freeman

  Fox parks the truck and he shoves my cookies into a backpack before we climb out. I pull my jacket tight around my shoulders, glad I decided to wear it today. The day is cool, but not too cold, and the sun is out. It’s warmer than it’s been the last few days—a nice November day.

  November… Could that be it? My birthday is just over a week from today. Is Fox taking me here as a birthday present? And if so, why is it just him, why not my mom and Jodi, too?

  Fox takes my hand and leads me toward the ticket gates. There are a few people milling around—a couple of moms with strollers and a few couples in their fifties, but mostly the place is empty.

  After paying for our tickets, Fox hands me the complimentary map. “Okay, where to?”

  I turn to him. “Really?”

  “Of course. You call the shots. I won’t complain, even if you want to spend all day staring at the vultures.”

  I grin. “Or hanging out in the reptile house?”

  He shivers. “As long as you protect me from all the venomous creatures, we’ll be fine.”

  “I make no promises.” My smile broadens and I catch myself. What am I doing? This morning, I was ready to break up with Fox, and now I’m grinning like an idiot because he kidnapped me and brought me to the zoo? But no matter how I try to tamp down my excitement, I can’t do it. I don’t dislike Fox—this would be much easier if I did. He’s not a bad guy in this reality—not that he was exactly bad in my original timeline, anyway, just… misguided. He was kind to me then, and that side of him is intensified here.

  I still need to break things off with him—it’s the right thing to do. He deserves every happiness, and I’m not the one to give it to him. But it’s clear he spent a lot of time planning this day—coordinating with my mom and Jodi, making arrangements to get my favorite cookies, packing provisions in a backpack. He doesn’t deserve me to ruin this day for him.

  I unfold the map and study it. To his credit, Fox doesn’t rush me as I trace my finger along the different paths, reading which animals are where. After I’m done studying, I fold it back up and stuff it into a pocket of Fox’s backpack. “Okay.”

  “Okay? Just, okay? What, do you have it memorized now or something?”

  I start down the path to our right. “So what if I do?”

  He follows, catching my hand with his. “No matter how long I know you, you’re always finding new ways to amaze me.”

  My cheeks burn and I turn my face from him. Unfortunately, in doing so, I lock eyes with a girl in her late twenties who wears a shirt with the zoo’s logo embroidered on the pocket and has a large camera strapped around her neck.

  “Why don’t you two get together for a picture?” The girl gestures at us with one hand, bringing the camera up with the other.

  I shake my head, but Fox is already stopping, tugging me closer to him. He pulls me so my back is against his front, his chin brushing the top of my head.

  “That’s great,” says the camerawoman. “Now smile!”

  Like Pavlov’s dog, I respond without thinking to her command. Her camera flashes and she hands Fox a ticket, telling us to check out our photo on the way out of the zoo. Fox thanks her before we continue.

  We pass by the first set of animals, but I barely notice them. Is it fair for me to pretend with Fox, even for the day? Or will it just make it more difficult for him when I finally end things?

  He tugs on my hand and I force myself to focus on the present. I can be horrible later, but not now. His gray eyes are bright; he’s like a little kid, he’s so excited. This trip today is as much for him as it is for me, and I want him to enjoy it; he deserves that much. He pulls me over to a huge fountain. The center fixture is held up by two brass polar bears while two smaller fixtures on either side look like otters, with water spitting out of their mouths. The inside of the fountain is littered with hundreds of coins. Fox digs into his pocket before pressing a dime into my palm.

  “Make a wish.”

  My stomach twists. I wish things were the way they were supposed to be—that I was back in my own reality. But I also wish that my mom were still alive there. I wish Owen didn’t look through me, and that the situation with Fox wasn’t so complicated. I wish Lexie was the nice girl I got to know when I first moved here, and that Bria wasn’t an outcast at school. I wish the circle hadn’t anchored itself to the crystal.

  Fox tosses a coin into the pool and I sigh and throw mine in, too.

  I wish there was a simple solution.

  We start at the reptile house, where Fox hides behind me when we get to the enclosures with the huge snakes. His fingers grip my shoulders so tightly I’m not sure whether he’s pretending or not. Outside, despite the cool temperatures—or perhaps because of them—many of the animals are active. The lion and lioness pace in front of the glass separating them from us. In the Arctic Ring of Life, the seals swim over the top of the tunnel that goes under their pool. Fox watches with wide eyes each time they pass over our heads, but it’s not until the polar bear dives in the water that he gets downright giddy.

  We eat lunch on a small hill overlooking the grizzly bears, who work hard to break the limbs off a large tree-sized branch that was clearly put there for their enjoyment. In addition to the cookies, Fox packed water, sandwiches, and chips.

  About halfway through the meal, Fox passes his hand in front of my eyes and I blink. I haven’t heard anything he’s been saying—I heard his voice, but I wasn’t paying attention to his words.

  “Hey, earth to Kristyl,” he says, wiggling his fingers.

  On impulse, I grab his hand. I’m not breaking up with him today, I’ve already decided that, but it doesn’t mean I can’t take another step toward making this reality my own. “Fox, do you think you could do something for me?”

  His eyebrows cinch together and he covers my hand with his free one. “Anything. You know that.”

  My chest tightens and I force myself to take a breath. I need to do this before I lose my nerve. “I’m… I’m tired of sharing a name with Crystal Jamison. I know you think she’ll come around—that the circle will stop being mad at me for trying to stop the anchoring ceremony—and maybe they will. But whether they do or they don’t, I’ve changed.”

  He nods. “Sure. I get it. Well, you know—kind of. Not like I’ve ever had to deal with another Fox, you know?” He grins, stroking the top of my hand with his fingertips. “What were you thinking of going by? Your middle name?”

  I snort. “Agnes? I don’t think so.”

  He laughs. “You sure? I bet you could pull it off.”

  “Oh, I’m sure.” I take in a breath, readying myself. “I was thinking… Krissa.”

  My eyes drop to our hands when I say it, but I can feel Fox’s gaze on me. “Krissa,” he says, drawing out the name. “Isn’t that…” He stops, shaking his head. “It’s nice.”

  I nod, making myself look at him. “I like it. I think… It suits me.”

  An expression I can’t decipher flickers across his face, displaced almost immediately by a smile. “If you like it, I like it.”

  After finishing our lunch, we go to the kangaroo exhibit, where we can actually walk through the enclosure where the kangaroos and wallabies live. We take a ride on the carousel, admire the pink flamingos and peer into branches to catch a glimpse of the tree kangaroos. By the time we make our way back to the front entrance, I’m exhausted and delighted. Fox holds my hand and I don’t feel guilty for letting him.

  On our way to the parking lot, he stops by the photo booth and picks up a copy of the picture snapped of us upon our arrival.

  As Fox pulls out of the parking lot and onto the freeway, I study the picture. His arm is around my waist, pulling me tight against his body, accentuating the difference in our heights. The smiles on our faces and lights in our eyes are identical—both kids in a candy shop, excited at the prospect of a day at the zoo. Looking at this picture, it’s almost impossible to believe I woke up this morning with the resolve to break up with hi
m. We appear to be the perfect couple.

  And we did have fun today—I can’t deny it. Fox is fun to be around. I honestly enjoy his company. And now, with the circle anchored to the crystal, I can’t afford to lose him, to lose my only real connection to them. If I can find a way to separate them from the crystal, I’ll need him on my side, not working against me.

  As Fox hums along with the radio, I try to convince myself that I’m staying with him for his own sake, and for the sake of the circle—not because I like him. I try to convince myself, but I’m not entirely successful. Pictures, they say, are worth a thousand words, and the one in my hand speaks of too many possibilities for me to throw it away so quickly.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Someone jostles my shoulder and I blink a few times, trying to get my bearings. I’m in motion. No, not me. I’m in something moving. Fox’s truck. I fell asleep somewhere along the highway. I shift in the passenger seat and shake my head before turning toward Fox.

  He smiles. “Hey there, sleepy.”

  I rub my eyes. “How long was I out?” We’re not on the freeway anymore. I’m not sure, but I think we passed this area on the way out this morning.

  “About an hour and a half.” He taps the clock on his dashboard. “Traffic wasn’t as bad as I thought. You’re not due home for another hour. We’ve got some time to kill.” He waggles his eyebrows.

  A shiver courses through me and I’m suddenly awake. Breaking up with Fox might be off the table for now, but does that mean I’m up for a make out session in the cab of his truck. I raise a wary eyebrow. “What are you thinking?”

  He smiles and shakes his head. “Coffee. You in?”

  My shoulders relax. “Coffee sounds great.”

  Five minutes later, Fox pulls up in front of the coffee shop on Main, down the street from Jodi’s shop. Fox hops out of the cab and jogs around to meet me. When he takes my hand, it’s so natural. It would almost be more awkward if we weren’t holding hands.

  There’s a man in his mid-thirties in line ahead of us and I stare at the menu board, even though I’m pretty sure I know what I’ll order. Jodi’s friend Millie is working and smiles when she catches my eye. Once the man ahead of us moves off to the pickup counter, Millie greets us.

  “How was the big day?” Her eyes are wide and expectant.

  Fox shakes his head. “I told Jodi not to tell.”

  Millie waves her hand dismissively. “You told her not to tell Kristyl. Come on, tell me. Did you have fun? How was the drive? I’m thinking of taking the kids there, now that they’re a little older. Was it really busy there today? Probably not, right?”

  She asks the questions so quickly I’m not sure which one to respond to first. Fox manages to get a word in and the two begin an easy banter.

  A blast of chilly air hits me as the shop’s door opens. Assuming it’s just the other customer leaving, I don’t turn. It’s not until I hear poorly muffled murmurs that my ears tune into the voices behind me.

  “What could they have been doing all day?”

  “I’m surprised she can still walk.”

  Tittering laugher.

  “Be nice, guys, be nice.”

  “She’s not even that pretty.”

  An icy sensation prickles my neck as I recognize the voices. When I turn, Crystal, Lexie, and Bridget feign looks of embarrassment at having been overheard, but we all know their comments were meant for my ears. So, they’re trying a different tack: Instead of ignoring me, they’re going to try to get a rise out of me by talking about me? I click my tongue and roll my eyes as obviously as I can, eliciting curled lips from Lexie and Bridget.

  At my old school, in my reality, I just took whatever abuse people piled on me. But I’m not the same girl here, and not just because I’m pretending. I’ve changed since arriving in Clearwater. Extricating my hand from Fox’s I turn to face the girls fully, squaring my shoulders. Crystal’s eyes flicker with surprise for the briefest moment as I approach.

  “Look, enough already.” I cross my arms over my chest and plant my feet. Although my stance is sure, my heart flutters in my chest. Adrenaline courses through my system and my body is coiled for fight or flight—but I’m hoping it doesn’t come down to either. “You guys’ve made your point. But now it’s time to grow up. If we’re not friends anymore, if you want me out—” I bite back the last words—of the circle—just in time. Millie is a witch and was in Jodi’s circle when they were younger, but I have no idea how much she knows about me and the others. “Just tell me and move on. Stop acting like children.”

  Fox attempts, unsuccessfully, to hide a snort and Bridget’s expression sours like she’s smelling something rotten. Lexie’s eyes flash and I’m pretty sure she’s considering hitting me. The precarious balance between fight and flight begins shifting and I formulate an escape route.

  Crystal, on the other hand, seems completely at ease. She gives a heavy, dramatic sigh. “I’ll handle this,” she says, taking a step toward me. “Can we talk outside?”

  No, of course we can’t. I want to say the words, but they stick in my throat. Without waiting for a response, Crystal pivots and sashays to the door. After a beat, I follow. People don’t sashay when they’re about to fight someone, and they certainly don’t hold the door like Crystal is doing now. I glance back, giving Fox the briefest nod to let him know I’m okay.

  The sidewalk outside is empty. Though it’s not terribly late, the sun is nearly down and the chill in the air has turned to a bite. Two cars pass in opposite directions on the street. I wait until they’re out of sight before facing Crystal. “What do you want to talk about?”

  “For Fox’s sake, I’m gonna tell the girls to knock it off with the hostility.”

  “For Fox’s sake?”

  “For him, yeah. And for circle unity. I mean, he hasn’t said anything, but I know he’s pissed with what’s going on. I don’t think he’ll put up with it much longer. And now that we’re anchored, it’s not like he can just drop out of the circle.”

  Her words ring in my ear—now that we’re anchored—and there’s a slight emphasis on the word he. There’s something I’m missing—something just below what she’s saying. Tentatively, I reach out with my mind. The more deliberate I’ve been with focusing my abilities, the easier it’s been to control them.

  It takes a moment for the echo to build in my head, and a few more for me to decipher the thoughts behind it. When the sentiment clarifies, I gasp, my eyebrows pulling together. “I’m not part of the circle anymore?”

  Surprise flits across Crystal’s face. Her mouth twitches and her eyes dart to the street, to the storefront—anywhere but me. “I think you made it clear that you didn’t want to be a part of the circle.”

  My mind spins. It’s true, really—I never wanted to be friends with Crystal or Bridget or this alternate-Lexie. And after seeing the kinds of things they do with their power—like messing with Bria—I don’t really want to be friends with them. But I do want to separate the circle from the crystal, and if they cut me off completely, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it. “You know why I didn’t want to anchor—”

  “Come on. It’s not like you were ever really part of it anyway—not you. I thought you’d be happy—one less thing to pretend.”

  A black Dodge Charger turns onto Main from a side street over Crystal’s shoulder, catching my attention as it eases toward us. The speed limit on this part of Main is only thirty miles per hour, but the car doesn’t accelerate even that much. Something tugs at the back of my mind. This car is familiar somehow—it’s like I’m seeing Fox’s truck or Jodi’s Focus—only I can’t place where I know it. I squint as it nears, trying to get a glimpse of the driver, but the windows are tinted so dark I can’t make out a face behind the glass. A shiver overtakes me as it passes, and I spin on the spot, keeping my eyes on it as it continues down the street.

  The faraway tinkling of bells pulls my attention from the Charger. I’d know those bells anywhere: Someone is wa
lking out of Jodi’s shop. I’m only aware there’s been a buildup of pressure in my chest when it ebbs as Seth steps out onto the sidewalk. My concern from a minute ago evaporates. So what if I’m out of the circle? I have Seth, and he and I can learn about magic together. He can teach me the spells he’s found in his research, and maybe somehow I can help him tap into more magic—increase his abilities.

  Seth catches my eye and waves, grinning. He checks both ways before loping across the street.

  Crystal grabs my shoulder, turning me roughly toward her. “Do you know him?”

  I’m taken aback by the intensity in her voice. I cover her hand with mine and pull hers from my shoulder. “Yeah. He works at Jodi’s. We’re actually related. Like distant cousins or something.”

  Crystal’s eyes are wide and round as she follows Seth’s progress toward us. She tugs on my arm. “Introduce me. But be cool about it.”

  I stare at her. She sounds almost starstruck. Maybe there’s something to my visions of him in relation to her after all. Before I can put any of these ideas into words, Crystal pinches me and I turn to face Seth, who slows to a stop in front of me. He studies my face for a second, like he’s making sure I haven’t changed my mind about him since last we talked. He must see what he hopes to find because a moment later he pulls me into a brief hug.

  “It’s good to see you. I was hoping to talk, but Jodi said you wouldn’t be in today. Something about a special trip?” His eyes stray over my shoulder, a look of polite curiosity on his face. “Who’s your friend?”

  Crystal pinches me again and I elbow her in the chest. “This is Crystal Jamison. Crystal, this is Seth White.”

  Seth offers his hand and Crystal takes it, but before she can shake it, he brings her knuckles to his lips, feathering a kiss there. “A pleasure.”

  Crystal giggles—a legitimate, all-out, school-girl giggle—but says nothing. Seth isn’t fazed by her reaction. Instead, he releases her hand and refocuses his attention. “I can see you’re occupied. We’ll talk soon, though. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I had better get Jodi her coffee.” With a wink at me, he heads into the coffee shop.