by J E Mueller
“Well, I was going to show you this later, but I think you’d like to see it more now.” Vincent replied as he scrolled through his phone. “Here it is.” He passed over his phone.
He was right, I had to smile at the article but it wasn’t the first time this had been proposed. Free school to students in good standing. Students with less than a 3.0 would need to pay some, but it was way better than now. Applying to get into schools was much the same, but still. A chance to go anywhere.
“Hopefully they actually pass it this time around. Even if they did, it wouldn’t take effect until next year.” The truth sucked.
“I think there’s a good chance. It’s a much better bill, and has a lot of important people supporting it.” Vincent’s excitement didn’t diminish.
“Guess we’ll see then. Doesn’t fix much of the current problems though.” I wish I could be more optimistic but it was just too hard.
“I bet there’s a lot of good things in your future.” Vincent nudged me.
“Oh? What makes you say that? I’m pretty sure the immediate future is going to involve another fight with my stepmom and probably a very lousy argument with Di. I doubt I’ll get home without a headache.”
“Well, miss grumpy barista, there’s still plenty of time this year for things to go right. I’m going to keep betting that they will. Even if tonight isn’t one of them.”
At least he knew tonight wasn’t going to be a good one. “All right, guess we’ll see. If I’m right I’ll keep my crabby title, and if I’m wrong I get to be pleasantly surprised. There’s really no downside to this.”
“There is no downside because I know things will go well.” Vincent smirked.
“Uh huh. You can’t tell the future,” I pointed out.
“Don’t need to to know this one.”
I raised an eyebrow at him and just shook my head. “As much as I’d love to continue this argument, I must be off.” I grabbed my bag and headed out.
“It’s not an argument. Just a series of facts,” Vincent called after me.
I just laughed for a moment before turning to wave back at him. “Well, as fun as it is to prove people wrong, I would like for you to be right.”
“See? Just need to believe a little and it’ll all come together.” Vincent was smiling far too much. Could he really know something?
“Uh huh. See you tomorrow. If I survive this family dinner that is.” I waved once more as I headed off.
While I knew dinner would go badly, I wasn’t expecting it to start the second I was in the doorway. Diamond didn’t even let me get my shoes off before she began screaming at me for going out somewhere with Vincent. I hadn’t noticed her friend Malina was there, but photo evidence was more than enough to not be able to deny it. Why should I?
“So what?” I was surprised at how loud my voice was in the entryway of the house. I hadn’t meant to yell, well not that loudly anyway. “He helped me with my car, so I treated him to breakfast.” I fudged the facts a bit there. It made for a better story. Not that I should need one but with psycho sister and a stepmom that supports these moments I was backed into a corner.
“He is mine. You don’t even deserve the men we’ve tried to set you up with. You are plain, boring, and unable to do anything other than mop a floor. You’ll never amount to anything.” Diamond’s glare was icy, but it did nothing to cool my rage.
Being plain wasn’t a bad thing. I didn’t think I was that boring. Oh no! I could handle chores! I had no reason to be ashamed. “If I won’t amount to anything, then why are you worried?” I called her out on her fears. “If I’m so boring, then why are you upset? No one would spend time with me.”
“That’s enough,” Stepmom called loudly from further inside the house. She quickly made her way to the scene of our argument. Her ink dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun which only made her sharp features look more stern than motherly. Rose stayed several steps behind her, watching the drama with glee. Diamond smirked at me while stepmom continued to criticize me. “You clearly have too much free time if you’re stealing your sister’s boyfriend. Your off time can be better spent here instead.”
Yeah, he wasn’t her boyfriend but whatever. “I am not stealing anyone.” My tone was flat, I could only imagine the ‘this is stupid’ face I was making at them. “Not to mention he’s going to be leaving this week anyway. I won’t be seeing him again. Your concern is ill spent. I will see you at work tomorrow.” I turned around and headed out the door.
“I am not done speaking with you!” I could hear my step-mother right behind me. I had no doubt Diamond was also on my heels.
“I’m done listening!” I called back, spinning on my heel to face them and walk backwards. “You’re yelling at me for something that isn’t a thing. I’m going to finish homework and get to bed. As usual.”
“You will do as I say and come back here.” Stepmother came to a stop, causing Diamond to nearly run into her.
I ignored her; instead I turned around to walk normally.
“You better listen to Mother.” Diamond surprised me with a shove. I hadn’t even heard her run up.
I stopped and turned around to face her. “I will listen about work things, but this isn’t work. This is nonsense. I’m not stealing anyone, I’m going home.”
Rose shook her head. She was still lingering just inside the door. “Sounds like lies to me…” Her singsong voice floated toward me, but I ignored it and continued on back to my car.
“If you take one more step you’ll regret it.” Stepmother’s eyes turned dark, almost black.
I could hear the magic in her voice, wrapping around the words as she said them. I wasn’t sure what she could do anymore. I knew her magic was weaker than mine, but illusions didn’t solve family drama. My heart raced. What was she plotting?
Her influence in the town could get her out of most trouble, and hadn’t helped me a bit after the other misadventures… This could go horribly. I felt panic bubbling up inside me. I needed to leave. Now.
“Just let me go home.” I couldn’t mask the terror in my voice. I tried taking several steps back away from them before I felt something tangle around my legs, causing me to slip as if I was on ice. I tried to brace myself and landed on my arm wrong. The crunch was loud enough to hear.
Tears filled my eyes as I cried out. The smile on both my stepmother’s face and Diamond’s was too much to look at. Their laughs rang with victory.
7
Broken bones were a setback I couldn’t afford, and yet now had to. The lovely step monsters weren’t going to pay for the damage, and easily assured me on the ride to the hospital it was all my fault. If only I had listened, none of this would have ever happened. If I listened better, maybe I wouldn’t be so broken. I needed time to heal and think about my actions. There really wasn’t a choice in the matter. The ever lovely step monster declared it so. I needed time to think about what I had done to myself. So, nothing but school and rest for me.
Stepmother refused to let me work, out of the goodness of her heart. My eyes couldn’t roll back any harder at that comment. The only good thing was the cast I had to wear had magic woven into the fibers. Instead of three months being out of commission, it was only three weeks. Just enough time to complete the school year a mess. It would take too long to replenish my savings now to go anywhere in the fall.
My heart ached for my father. I missed him and all he had done to try and keep my life together. He was gone though, so with the morning sun, I tried to force thoughts of the past away from my mind. I couldn’t let it get to me now. I just couldn’t…
I had told Callie everything last night, but wasn’t sure what to say to Vincent. He’d notice quickly I wasn’t at work. Still, I waited until after nine to send him a message.
“Won’t be working today.” Well, lame as it was that was a good start.
“That doesn’t sound like you.” Came the response.
He wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know what to say back. Af
ter a few moments he added another message.
“What happened?”
Might as well just get into the details. Or the details I could give. “Slipped on ice last night. Broken wrist. The wonderful stepmother won’t let me work until it’s healed.”
There was a long pause before he finally replied. “Did you actually slip or did something else happen?”
Now that was the question of a lifetime. “No one pushed me if that’s what you’re asking. Magic may or may not have been involved. I really don’t know. Either way, no evidence of foul play.”
Another long pause before he replied, “Are you going to head to school early then?”
“Yeah. Step monster hid my keys until I’m healed too so I’m waiting on Callie.” I hated that move of hers, but really it only made school and grocery shopping annoying. I didn’t go many places.
“You’re an adult. She can’t take your keys.” True, and yet, where were they? Oh yeah, in her hands.
“It’s not worth the fight, Vincent. There’s nothing to do in town anyway. I’m more upset that I can’t work. I can’t even try to make up for what this cost me.”
It was a clear powerplay by the step monster. How to keep me under her control? Keep me broke and stuck here.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I stared at his message. Was there anything?
“I don’t know. I’m just tired and crabby today. I don’t think anything other than a good night’s sleep will help that one.”
“Well, I’ve got a few ideas,” he replied.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a broken wrist. It’ll be fine in a few weeks.”
When he didn’t reply, I had a feeling he wasn’t going to listen.
Vincent didn’t show up at his normal time at lunch. Instead, I saw him stop Callie when she was on her way to her second class. They talked for a few moments, turned away from me so I couldn’t even guess at what they were talking about before Callie had to rush off.
“What was that about?” I asked Vincent as he sat down next to me.
“Nothing important.” He smirked.
“Uh huh. Because hiding it makes it totally unimportant.” I shook my head.
“Pretty much.” He winked. “I’ve actually got to head off in a few minutes but I wanted to see how you were doing and say I hope you feel better.”
“I’ll be fine.” I shrugged.
“I’m sure you will be. Still, I got you something.” Vincent pulled out a box and handed it to me. “I’ll see you later.”
With that, he was gone. Weird. I looked at the small box in my hands. It wasn’t particularly heavy but did have a little weight to it. Curiosity finally getting the better of me, I opened it. I had to laugh. Inside was a necklace and a ring. The necklace was a pretty purple pendant. The second I picked it up I knew what it was. It warmed quickly at my touch and reacted with the inactive magic within me. A magnistone. It was a specialty stone used to help amplify abilities. It wouldn’t be allowed in for exams, but it was something fun to have. I’d be able to practice longer without being tired and use more magic in general.
The ring was a different story. I had seen several rela-stone rings. They were mostly used to ward away magics used on you in a negative way. It was hard to say if one was real or not until you put it to use. I had a feeling it was real, though. A little good luck against magics that might harm me was exactly what I needed. Only yesterday. Still, it couldn’t hurt. I put them both on and headed up to the library.
By the time I met up with Callie again, I had figured out how to perfectly illusion them so you couldn’t see them.
“Ready to head back?” She asked brightly.
“Not really, but sure. Only if you tell me what you were chatting with Vincent about.” I gave her an innocent smile.
“Oh, that.” Callie laughed. “He asked for my number.”
“Why?” That was interesting.
“Can’t say. You’ll find out.” She looked far too amused.
“But you love telling me all the good gossip!” I tried to plead.
“That I do. This time I’m willing to make an exception. Also, I promised so….” She shrugged but kept smiling.
“Ugh. Come on. What are besties for?”
Callie shook her head. “Many things. And for once I get to do something fun for you.”
“What sort of fun?” I tried to ask as sweetly as possible.
Callie covered her mouth and shook her head.
“You’re no fun.” Grumbling, I gathered up my bag.
She laughed and let down her hands. “Come on.”
Not having to work helped me to get my homework done early, which left me a lot of nothing to do. I still had use of my hand, but it was crazy hard to sketch with the restrictive cast so instead, I put on a movie.
My phone chimed and I was far too excited for something else to focus on.
“Are lessons still a thing?” Vincent asked.
I hadn’t thought of it. “Sure. My arm might be broken but not my magic. Might as well do something if you’re up to it.”
“Perfect. I figured I should double check but I thought of that after I got here, so I’m here.”
I had to laugh. At least he tried.
I went down to the door to let him in and noticed he had a very full looking backpack. He normally didn’t bring anything.
“What did you bring?” I locked the door behind him.
Vincent gave me a smirk. “Stuff.” He shrugged before frowning.
“What’s wrong?” I was surprised by his quick change of expression.
“You’re hiding your necklace?”
“I didn’t want to deal with family questions when I got back.” I let the illusion fall. “Even more so with Diamond calling you her boyfriend.”
“Oh, hell no.” Vincent shuddered at the thought.
“Right? Had a feeling you wouldn’t like that idea.” I lead the way upstairs.
“That’s so…” I turned to see Vincent trying to shake off the disgusted feeling that had overcome him. “I can’t believe she’d say that.”
“I can.” I opened the door to my flat. “She’s something. Though it doesn’t appear that willing it to happen is working for her.”
“I could never date someone like her.” Vincent followed me into the flat and shut the door behind us.
“Then like who? Not that it’s a challenge to beat ‘miss I only want you for your looks’.” I sat on the sofa and waited for the answer.
Instead of responding he stood near the door looking absolutely confused.
“I didn’t think this was a trick question.” I chuckled and took a seat.
“Then you answer it.” He smirked, the confusion quickly slipping away.
I tried to answer then shut my mouth. Did I even have a type? I hadn’t given it any thought in years. “I suppose we’ll ignore this question and go back to an earlier one.”
“And what’s that?” He asked coming to finally sit by me.
“What’s in the bag?” It was clearly stuffed to the brim.
“Stuff.” He continued to smirk.
Of course, it was stuff. I rolled my eyes. “What specific kind of stuff?”
“The odd assortment kind.” Vincent tried to hold back a laugh.
I stared blankly at him… or tried to. “Of course. The odd unnamed assortment kind.” I crossed my arms.
“Aw no fun, you look too serious.” Vincent grumbled and started to open the bag. “Wait, close your eyes.”
“Why?” I asked suspiciously.
“Obviously it’s a surprise.”
“The entire bag is a surprise at this point!” I grumbled, frustrated.
He gave me a pointed look until I finally covered my eyes.
“This is stupid.” I grumbled at him.
“Probably, but keep them closed.” I could hear the amusement in his voice.
The sounds of things being removed from the bag made me give a careful, curious lo
ok. Only to see a wall of black in front of me.
“That’s cheating. If you were going to use magic to hide things, why did I need to close my eyes?” I grumbled in defeat.
“As a backup in case you looked.” He snickered.
I groaned loudly. “Not fair!”
“I had a feeling surprises weren’t your thing. Hopefully, you won’t hate me for too many surprises.”
What did that even mean? “What do yo–” and just like that, the magic dropped.
In front of me was a purple stuffed floppy-eared rabbit. Vincent was already getting up, carrying a handful of things.
“What are you up to?” I asked, picking up the super soft plushie.
“Making a surprise dinner. I’m sure you’re not feeling up to much, so I thought it might help cheer you up.”
“You’ve already done more than enough.” I laughed, not really sure what else to say or even how to react to all of this. I glanced over at him as he tried to find the pans he was looking for in my cabinets.
“Nah, this is nothing.” He shrugged. “A little positive to combat this terrible event.”
“Thank you…” I replied and looked back at my new bunny. It was cute, and very soft. Snuggling it close, I decided to hit play on my movie and wait to see what dinner would be.
It didn’t take long for Vincent to finish dinner. In less than fifteen minutes he sat down on the sofa next to me and handed me a bowl. I stared at the chilli a little surprised by the choice. A delicious idea, and even better that I hadn’t needed to figure out something myself.
“It’s a dish I made a lot when I was in school. So, up until last year.” He laughed, stabbing his fork into the bowl. “Spaghetti covered in chili. Easy, warm, and very filling comfort food.”
That did sound pretty good. “How did you go from just being in school to touring schools?” I asked, digging into the meal.
He shrugged. “It’s complicated and a rather boring story on top of that.”
“So, boring as in you don’t want to explain or you don’t think I want to listen?” I asked, taking another big bite of food. It was really good.