“What?”
I looked at Wilson and then I looked back at Sebastian. He mischievously smiled at me.
“Get out of here! He’s a ferret and he’s a dog! You did some stupid magic on them to make them suddenly start understanding me!”
“You give them such little credit.” Sebastian sighed.
He walked around and opened the door for Wilson. I watched him wander off into the yard.
“Okay, but don’t get lost!” I yelled after him.
Spike walked up behind me and stared after the ferret.
“No! No, Spike! You heard me, leave him alone today.” I said pointing a finger in his direction. Spike whimpered.
“Can you really understand me?” I asked leaning down to him.
He always whimpered when I took that tone with him. To finally see it as a response to my words, well, it was weird.
“Yes, he does. You really don’t hear him?” Sebastian asked, trying not to mock me in a demeaning manner. He was getting plates out of the dishwasher and only half paying attention.
“No, I really don’t. But now I wish I did.”
I leaned down further and looked into Spike’s eyes. What was he thinking? What did he know? All this time I had talked to him to make myself feel better and he had understood every word of it. I couldn’t believe it. This had to be only because Sebastian was here. As soon as he were gone things would be normal. My pets were just pets.
“More trust, Mira. You have to have more faith in him.” Sebastian whispered. “He says that he wants to tell you something. It is very important that you trust him first.”
“Of course.”
I looked at Spike with a bit of fear. What did he know? He seemed to be concentrating. It was wicked. He and I were honestly connecting. I felt my heart ache.
“He’s full of a lot of, what’s your word, pain? He says he’s sorry. He’s very sorry to see you hurt so much. He wants you better and he wants you to know he’ll never leave you.”
“Really?”
I didn’t know what else to say. Spike seemed to nod his head and place it in my lap. I felt myself start crying. It was all very surreal. Every movement he made that I had just taken as coincidence, he had meant it. All the whimpering and barking had actually been words. And he shared my feelings, of course he had feelings. He missed her, too. It wasn’t his fault.
“It’s not your fault. I love you.” I said.
I pet his head. He whimpered. I never wanted to forget the way I was feeling right now. It was beautiful. I felt complete.
“You’re good to him.” Sebastian whispered.
I laughed in my tears.
“Thank you.”
“Eat now, it’ll get cold.”
I kissed Spike’s head again then I sat back at the bar. Time was still standing still for me. I saw all the delicious food, but my thoughts were stuck on Spike. What else did he know? What else did he want to say to me? There had to be more.
“You’ll have time for that later. You need to eat now.” Sebastian encouraged me.
I nodded my head. There was so much food in front of me. Forcing myself to go on, I cut a piece of pancake. Slathering it in syrup, it slid down into my stomach. Instant relief swarmed through my malnourished body. Everything was so good. Sebastian was an amazing cook for not knowing what he was doing.
I looked up to compliment Sebastian, but the clock behind him distracted me. It was nearly nine o’clock now. Where were the movers? Had they called? I wasn’t even sure my phone was charged at this point. However, I’d give them until 9:30.
“Movers? Oh, yes, I sent them away.” Sebastian said looking at the clock with me.
I dropped my fork.
“What? What do you mean? Sebastian!”
I jumped up and ran to the door as if to hope to catch them. What was he thinking? Wait a minute, then today was Wednesday. I had been reliving the same day only in my mind. Thank God I was caught up. That meant Joe does remember me and everything else had happened. How weird. Well, no, if I lived yesterday like I did, but I also went to the apartment, how is that possible? Did I live two Tuesday’s? Oh, I wish Sebastian remembered.
“You and me both.” He grinned.
“Hey, I’m still mad at you.” I sighed.
I walked back over and finished eating, less enthusiastically as before.
“They were not good for you. I can help you move.”
“Oh yeah? And how do you suppose we do that without a car?”
“I got you here, didn’t I?”
“Yeah...how did you do that?” I asked, pointing my fork at him.
“I’m not allowed to show you.” He whispered and crossed his arms.
“What? But you just-” I couldn’t believe it.
“Yes. I cannot share any information with you that would reveal myself. Everything must be figured out on your own.” He paused for a moment, “If you use your brain to show me those thoughts again, you can narrow down on that part where I got you here. And then maybe I could do it again.”
“I thought you could only see wants, not thoughts. Besides, I was unconscious for all that.” I mocked him.
He snorted. This was hopeless. I leaned on the counter and pushed my empty plates towards the sink. Resting on my arm, I stared dully at him. He had to think of something.
“Hmm, oh, alright, I’m stuck here anyways. Okay, go do your human thing and get dressed.”
“What?”
“Just go.” He shooed me off.
I curiously got up and walked into my room. He was playing with me, how cute. Now I was worried about what I should wear. I had to have something in this room. I wondered what he was going to do. Were we going to fly? I should wear jeans. Did I have any jeans here? It wasn’t that cold out. But if he took me up into the sky, the wind would be brutal. There had to be a pair I left, I just knew it.
“Ah-ha!” I exclaimed when I opened up a drawer and found a pair of jeans. These clothing items kept appearing when I needed them. Could Sebastian really…
I thought about it for a second but shook it off. I needed a shirt. I really didn’t want to wear this shirt for the fifth time, or however many days it had been. There were no shirts hanging up. I did have a jacket and a spaghetti strapped shirt lying on the floor from Sunday. That would have to do for now.
I looked in the mirror when I was in the bathroom. My hair had maintained itself somewhat through the night. Thank goodness I buy children’s bobby pins so they hold better. In the reflection, I saw that I still had all my clothes in the tub. They should be dry by now since I had hung them over the edges last night. However, I really had no other place to put them right now. They could stay on the edge. I just needed to wash my hair; I didn’t think my bandage was ready to get wet, anyway.
Rinsing the tub out enough to my satisfaction of cleanliness, I washed the day's mess out of my hair. I was disappointed when I saw some teal still coming out. The box had said it was permanent. I knew this color would never last. They never last. Each associate tells me one product is better, but they’re just in it for the sale. Everyone is worried about their money. Oh, well. I’d have to make a trip to the store again anyway for black dye. My blonde roots were starting to show.
With all the conditioner out of my hair, I towel dried it and then scrunched some leave-in conditioner in the kinks. Staring into the mirror again, I cleaned my face with a wash cloth. After brushing my teeth, I put my favorite teal hair tie and white bobby pins on my wrist. I felt ten times better. I was ready for anything. I walked out and Sebastian stood up. He looked me over real quick and nodded.
“Thanks for your approval?”I raised my eyebrow at him, questioning his need to judge me at all.
“Sorry. The last few times I have seen you, well, you weren’t trying to look good I would think.”
“Ouch!” I shrieked.
“Your leg?!” He rushed over.
“No, you moron, my feelings.”
I hit him in his arm a t
ad over playful.
“Feelings? I’m sorry. I was just being-”
“Sebastian?” I interrupted him. “Anyway.”
“Right, okay. Think of your apartment and see us in it. I can go from there.”
He stuck his hands out towards me. They were a little high up. I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to do with them, so I did what any normal human would have and wrapped my hands around them.
“No, Mirabelle, I need your head.” He said sternly.
“Oh, okay.” I leaned forward and closed my eyes. “Hey Sebastian?” I whispered.
“What?”
“It’s Mira.” I said back.
A few seconds later and I felt like my body was getting pulled inside out. I wanted to scream, but no sound would escape. It was the worst feeling I had ever felt. My body was on fire. Every bone was being broken in the slowest, most painful way possible. The only constant feelings were his hands on my head. What was he doing to me? This was utter agony. Then right when I thought I was going to die for sure, Sebastian let go. I fell backwards clutching my head.
“What the hell was that?!” I screamed; I was in so much pain.
“Open your eyes.” He mumbled.
“What?!”
I forced them open and then I jumped up. We were sitting in my apartment living room.
“I’ll get the boxes.” Sebastian closed his eyes and vanished.
What was going on? Did he really just apparate us to my apartment? I couldn’t believe it. I had read about it in so many stories. Why did none of them warn me about how bad it felt? I would have never wished to have that gift or to even experience it.
My car! I had to check on it. I knew I had left it unlocked. I rushed over to the window and turned the handle up. Then I pulled it out towards me and stepped on the ledge. Looking down and up the alley, I felt so dumb. My car was parked on the other side of the building. There was no way to see it from here. I should have known that. I needed to go outside. I wasn’t sure that I should leave the apartment yet.
Boxes started falling out of thin air. Of course they were. How was he sure that I wasn’t in the way? I walked into the living room to try to see if I could find him or grab him when he dropped a box. Then one popped next to me and that’s when I knew it’d be okay for me to step out of the house.
I ran out the door and down the stairs. Yanking the main door open, I did one of those cartoon skidding-to-a-halt things. There was someone walking up. Joe? How the hell is he here right at this moment? Did he remember me? This was it.
“Mira?”
He held his hand up over his eyes to act like I was far away or something.
“Hey, Joe.”
I was honestly relieved. I didn’t care how much sense it didn’t make, I was just glad I didn’t have to meet him all over again. Well, I suppose given the circumstances, meeting him again wouldn’t have been the worst thing ever. But that was said and done, now. We were in a new day. He remembered me. I had fallen in the fountain, everyone had seen it, and I had been able to forget it had happened for a few hours. It was a win-win situation.
“Day two of unpacking, huh?” He asked as he walked up closer to me.
“Yep. Can’t wait for it to be finished with.”
“I bet. Take it the movers never showed up?”
The way he said it, there was an air of annoyance about it. Was he doubting me? I wouldn’t lie. I wasn’t a liar.
“No, as a matter of fact they didn’t. So I’m doing this by myself, thank you.”
If he was going to treat me like that, then I was going to put him in his place. His entire posture dropped. I had won again. Man, what did this guy see in me?
“Do you need any help this time?”
“That is very nice of you, but as you can see, I am dry and fully capable of walking this time.”
I gestured to myself from head to toe. When I looked back up, I moved a piece of hair out of my face. He was smiling at me. It made my cheeks hot.
“Yes, I can see.” He laughed. “I really like you all neat and dry. Not that you soaking wet was so terrible, though.”
He quickly fixed his words. Why would he try to not offend me? I was a total wreck yesterday. Oh, Joe, there’s no need to get on my good side any more than you already are.
“Yes, I’m sure the difference is subtle.” I winked at him. “Thank you, though.”
“You’re a tricky one.” He laughed, mockingly.
Grinning at him, I went back to what I was doing. The handle on my car didn’t budge. I walked around to the other side and it didn’t move, either. Wow, I actually locked my car for once. That meant my keys were upstairs and I was looking like a fool in front of Joe again. Maybe he wasn’t watching me and he had gone inside? I looked up to check. Of course not, it’s Joe after all. He was there to see my every embarrassing moment.
“Left my keys upstairs.” I sighed.
“Happens to me all the time. Don’t beat yourself up over it.” He smiled.
“I wasn’t.” I glared at him.
Was he always this self-righteous? I walked past him and went for the door. It didn’t move. Of course; no keys. There had to be a buzzer somewhere.
“Excuse me.” I asked Joe, who was just standing there, watching me.
“By all means.”
He held his hands up and stepped back. There was a list of apartments on the wall next to the door. I found 3B with little effort. Impressed with myself, I went to press it, but Mr. Self-Righteous over there dangled his keys in my face.
“You know, these things really do come in handy.”
Joe smiled a devious smile. He was just so happy to be the one taking care of me again.
“You know, you just saw me locked out of my car. Why on earth would I have the keys to this door?”
“I was meaning that all you had to do was ask me.” He said dryly.
“Well, I figured it was obvious.” I mocked him.
“You’re fun.” He laughed.
“Life of the party.” I smiled.
Why was he so irritating now? What was going on? Was I letting Sebastian misconstrue my initial thoughts of him? I was completely infatuated with this guy the other day. We were going on a date tomorrow. I had to loosen up. I needed to forget Sebastian. He was leaving. Joe was real.
“Thank you.” I said when he opened the door for me.
“My pleasure.” He smiled.
“Okay, well, I’ll see you around.” I waved to him.
“Bye, Mira.” He winked.
“Bye, Joe.”
I ran up the stairs and threw myself into my apartment. Boxes were still apparating into my living room. I’d hear a pop and then one would fall onto the hardwood floor. It was weird they weren’t piling up or getting broken.
I wondered if he needed any help packing on the other side or if he was just sending the ones already packed. If he were sending the already packed ones, he should be done by now. I didn’t like him doing all the work anyway.
“Sebas-” I yelled when another box popped through.
Suddenly, a weird noise slowly got louder. Then a burst of air hit my face. I heard squealing and whimpering as if a pig were just let loose in the middle of a fair. Spike collapsed to the floor.
“Fun ride?” I asked him.
He looked like he was going to vomit. I really hoped he wouldn’t. I mean my entire apartment was either hardwood or tile, but I still, I didn’t want to clean up dog vomit.
Spike dizzily got up and walked over to the kitchen to lie down. I wasn’t sure what the difference was, maybe he knew the boxes were still coming. He had a point. I sat on the bar and watched my living room steadily get fuller. They’d have to stop sometime. And finally, they did. A gust of wind and I was looking at the human version of Sebastian.
“What is all this?” I asked him.
“Your boxes. I can move whatever I can hold. I told you this.” He smiled.
“Of course. Hey, do you remember anything yet?” I
asked him.
I was impatiently ungrateful sometimes.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I just want to know if you can tell me how I lived yesterday twice without affecting anyone. I mean, I spent the whole day inside, but if I had gone out, and I already met these people, that just doesn’t make sense.”
“I have no idea.” He frowned.
“Yeah.” I rolled my eyes.
Of course you don’t know anything. At least all my boxes were moved. I could finally get the ones out of my car. Grabbing my keys, we walked out together. I made sure to triple check that I had my keys before letting the door close behind us. I was not going to need Joe’s help this time. I’m a big girl, I could do it all on my own, for once.
We walked outside and I shielded my eyes in the sunlight. How long was I waiting upstairs? Oh well, at least Joe wasn’t around this time. I felt relieved it was just me and Sebastian.
“How does it open?” Sebastian asked, fiddling with the handles.
“Oh, I have to unlock it first.”
I hadn’t realized I was staring at the spot where Joe had been standing earlier. My mind wasn’t all there, still. At least it was working in other aspects, I supposed. I liked Sebastian, but running into Joe again helped assure me what was real and what wasn’t. I liked Joe more again, and I needed to.
I found the trunk key and unlocked it. I held Sebastian back as it flew open. Six years with this car and I was used to the way the trunk opened. It could knock someone out if they weren’t paying attention. I never knew why Rida hadn't gotten it fixed. In a way though, I guess there wasn’t technically anything wrong with it.
“Thanks.” He sighed.
He picked up a few heavy boxes and then started for the door. I grabbed the lightest one; if I had a strong beast to help me unload boxes and coincidentally turned my movers away, well, I was going to use him to my full advantage.
I opened the door for myself for the first time and let in Sebastian. He used his foot to keep it open so I could walk in safely before him. When I was halfway up the stairs and couldn’t hear his feet behind me, I turned around to check on him. Sebastian wasn’t there anymore. A pop and a bark from upstairs caught my attention again.
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