by Jaz Johnson
“Oh, hey! I was starting to think I called the wrong number,” Maverick said on the other end of the phone. Saphora shook her head, as she walked along the side of the road. Fran had gone to work, and she had left the site where the police were gathering evidence.
“No, I was just in the middle of something, sorry.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you still busy? You didn’t have to call me back if you’re busy.”
“No, I was just with the police. It’s fine.”
Maverick nearly choked on the water he had started drinking. He moved the phone away from his mouth as he cleared his throat.
“Police. Oh – well. Okay then.”
“Why were you calling?”
Maverick cleared his throat again, suddenly very nervous. There was something about her bluntness in the way she spoke that did that to him. Put him on edge.
“Oh, I was just, uh … I was wondering how you were.”
“How I was?”
“Yeah. I mean … Things were pretty – rough last night. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“Oh … I’m … I’m okay. Thank you,” she said awkwardly.
Staring at the ground as she trailed along the side of the highway she felt the corners of her lips pinch upwards in the beginnings of a smile. It felt nice. Having someone ask her how she was with the genuine concern of how she was doing. Not because they wanted something in return, or were worried what someone else would think based upon her answer. But because they actually wanted to know.
“I also wanted to say that I really enjoyed talking to you.”
“Yeah?”
Maverick laughed.
“Everyone has their days. And from the sound of things, you were having a pretty tough time. And still are, apparently,” Maverick reasoned.
“Yeah …”
There was an awkward pause then, and Saphora looked up from the road. She found herself waiting for his next words. Hoping that the compassion would continue. Or at least the conversation. She liked the distraction from her raging thoughts. The strange act, to her, of speaking to someone who didn’t constantly want something from her was weight lifting, and seemed to quiet her thoughts into a soft lull.
“So, uh,” Maverick continued. “Have you tried anything to, uh, practice calming down?”
“Talking to you seems to help,” she said, and then immediately afterwards, her hand reached up to cover her mouth as she stopped in her tracks. “I – I mean … Sorry, I didn’t-“
“No, no, it’s okay,” Maverick stuttered. His heart was pounding against his chest in excitement, and disbelief. I can’t believe she just said that, he thought. He rushed to find encouraging words for her confession. “It’s fine, really. I’m glad.”
Another awkward pause, and Saphora thought about his question. She agreed with him, that she needed to practice control. Just not with her emotions. With her power. She decided that she would do so, and really work on keeping a lock and key on it. She couldn’t just have things happening without her consent, like with Dr. Lupin just then, or that car ride with Officer Roland. She had gotten lucky, but with stunts like those, someone could have easily gotten hurt. She couldn’t risk putting someone in danger and wind up actually becoming responsible for someone’s death. Plus, with Tebias at large, it was probably a good idea to learn some control so that she could defend herself. Yes, the voice had helped her out of her last encounter with him, but where was she in the woods? She had been left to defend herself. What if the voice didn’t come again? Or what if it failed? She couldn’t depend on something she wasn’t sure existed. So being able to defend herself properly was more than enough of a reason to learn better control. And she would start that today.
“Saphora? Are you still there?” Maverick asked, having been trying to get her attention. Saphora shook her head slightly, refocusing.
“Sorry! Sorry, I was just, uh, thinking about something.”
“It’s alright. Did you hear what I said?”
“Can you say it again?”
“I said … I mean, I asked … I was wondering if you wanted to hang out again. Or, err, talk, I mean. I was wondering if you wanted to talk again – with me.”
Saphora shook her head, not really understanding.
“But, we are talking …”
“I meant like … Go somewhere, and talk, like, in person.”
“Oh,” she said, blinking a couple of times. While it was true that she enjoyed talking to Maverick, she hadn’t expected him to want to keep talking to her so soon. She thought he would try and keep his distance from an emotionally unstable woman for at least a little while.
“You don’t have to, if you don’t want to. I mean, you know … We did just-“
“No, no, I do. I mean, I’d like that, but …” She wanted to start practicing her control immediately. And although it was his idea, she didn’t think she could share that with him. She knew she couldn’t. Being nice was one thing, but knowing something like that was a whole other. “But I’ve got something else to do, and I promised Fran I would be home early.”
“Oh …” Saphora could practically feel the disappointment in his voice.
“But, uh, maybe tomorrow? I mean, if you’re not working or anything.”
“No! I’m not working at all. Today or tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay. Tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow it is … Uhm, do you want me to pick you up, or … Or do you want to meet me at the shop, or …”
Saphora giggled at his immediate recovery and childish excitement.
“We can go to that book store you brought me to.”
“Oh, okay, do you want me to-“
“I’ll meet you there.”
“You remember how to get there?”
“Mhm.”
“Wow. Are you sure you have amnesia?”
Saphora gave an involuntary giggle, and her mouth rushed to cover it.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“I was just teasing you. So, what time tomorrow?”
“Hm … Is two alright? In the afternoon?”
“That’s great. I’ll meet you there?”
“Yeah.”
“Great,” he happily sighed. “Take care, Saphora.”
“You too, Maverick.”