“Aw, honey, no.” She rubs my hand as I nod and fight back the tears that threaten to fall. It’s so stupid to cry over a boy who doesn’t like you when he doesn’t even know you. But the memory of him yelling at and rejecting me was awful. It feels like someone took the already tenuous ember of magic in my soul and shoved it into the water, snuffing it out.
“Yes, he does,” I rasp. “I don’t b-b-blame him.”
Auntie sits back. “Look, why don’t I get Seb to talk to you? Become gay besties, and you chat about boys.”
“Doesn’t he live with Gordy?”
“That doesn’t matter. We’re family, including Seb.” I catch her gaze, and I’m thankful to have an aunt who’s always looking out for me. “He’s a member of the coven. That makes us all family. He’d be happy to help you. After all, he managed to seduce the Jade Lion. And you’re living in his room! So that’s good luck.”
I laugh, and she leans in to hug me. “Regardless of what happens between you and this turtle man, I will help you hone your magic, Loxley. I swear it.”
“Thanks, Auntie.”
She stands up and levels me a humorous look. “You’re not gonna like…magically compel him, right?”
My jaw drops. “N-n-no!” I stammer.
She laughs and puts her hands up. “I had to ask. Infatuation makes us do crazy things. Especially when we have access to magic.” As she saunters off, she sings, “Don’t try any love potions!”
She cackles, and I have to chuckle at that. Even if I could make a love potion, I don’t want to force Gordy to love me. I want him to at least entertain the idea that we have a magical connection. Every cell in my body is screaming that I need to spend more time with him.
But I can’t compel him to want to spend time with me. Which sucks, because the thought of putting my hands on his scaly skin or hard shell makes my pulse rise in delight.
That night, I do what many twenty-five-year-old men do when alone to let off some steam. I log onto my video game console and boot up my favorite game. When I see who’s online, I lean forward and smile. His avatar is one of the generic green alien characters, and when the chat bubble pops up, my heart feels lighter.
Coldblooded: Hey man. You at the new place?
Him knowing that about my life is flattering. CB might be my closest friend, which sounds pathetic. However, considering I can’t talk properly, it makes sense that my online gamer buddy knows me better than any dude in real life.
Me:Yes! Got the Wi-Fi and PC set up. Streaming flawlessly with excellent bandwidth.
Coldblooded:Sweet. You up for a dungeon crawl now?
Me:With you? Always.
Coldblooded:Great. Let’s tackle the blue dungeon, level five.
Coldblooded:The last week of playing without you has kinda sucked. Everyone else is a noob compared to you.
Me:Aw, how flattering. You missed me? Wished you could stroll in the dungeon holding my hand? (winky face emoji)
Coldblooded:All jokes aside, I actually did miss you. Gaming with you is the highlight of my day most days.
My smile falls before I can type a response. For the past almost year, gaming has been more than just a hobby, it’s been an escape. And CB is responsible for it. He’s fun, charming, and we have a great rapport. If I wasn’t so awkward, I might actuallybelieve him to have a crush on me. I know he’s a dude in his twenties, but I don’t even know if he’s gay. I’ve always been too scared to push it. But being far from home in a new place with new acquaintances has made me feel itchy with anxiety.
CB, my online buddy, the one I can chat with freely without judgment, brings me comfort.
Instead of dissecting my feelings for an online avatar, I click to enter the dungeon where he’s waiting. The next few hours look to be a joyous romp in the digital world with my online friend. I’ll probably never meet CB, and that’s okay. He doesn’t know what I look like or my real name, but he seems to enjoy his friendship with my username, Speakeasy, and that’s enough for now.
CHAPTER 6- GORDY
“I HAVE NOdoubt you’ll make it into the Union,” Seb says. He’s driving me uptown, where I’m going to be oriented with a huge group of wizards. Apparently, I have to take an exam to use portable magic? Spellcasting is already too much of a headache for me, one I’m content with not partaking in. Magic without control is dangerous. I have no interest in most solo spells, but maybe these wizards can help me with my glamours. “And if not, we’ll try again another time.”
“Sure,” I reply. When I look forward, I don’t miss the concerned glances Kai and Seb share from the front.
After another tense moment, Seb clears his throat. “You know, I’ve been doing some reading, Gordy. Magical history and all that.”
“Okay?” Where is he going with this?
