“And I just got…your name.” I point at him, and he nods.
“Yeah, despite my turtle form, I’m not actually cold-blooded. At least I think not. How does one check these kinds of things? Like a blood thermometer or something?” We both laugh, and it’s a joyous sound I would love to replay for years to come. Gordy and I seem to fit together, both online and in real life.
After we calm down, I open my palm towards his. Focusing on the moon, I try to muster up any magic I can. Without saying a word, Gordy lifts up his hand to mirror mine. At that moment, the spark within me flares to life again. That indescribable sensation, that warmth that reminds me I’m a witch, simmers even more than usual within my soul. Small flecks of green energy glow and float from my hand to his. Ruby red bits of magic float from his palm to mine, and when they make contact, a chill runs down my spine.
Our magic connects. Like every instinct I’ve had since we met, Gordy and I just make sense together. I’m the witch I want to be when I’m with him. It’s a beautiful, unexplainable phenomenon. Laughter bubbles from my chest, and Gordy chuckles along with me.
The joy on his face means he knows exactly what I’m thinking; we have magic when we’re together.We might be right for each other.
After a few more moments of sharing bits of energy, I close my palm, and he does the same. The glittering lights are gone, and that’s probably for the best. We’re still in public after all.
“That was…wow,” he says, breathlessly.
“Agreed.”
“What is it about…you?” He flickers one last spark of red energy, then puts his hand down. “It’s like…your presence. I don’t get it.”
“Me neither,” I whisper. “Let’s just…go with it.”
He nods and pensively stares at his drink. “Can I ask you something?” I nod, so he continues, “The day we met, why did you call me…?”
“Familiar,” I murmur, and he nods. Nervousness pangs through my heart, and I stare at my hands in the darkness. “A…familiar…is like…”
“An animal that can augment a witch’s powers.”
I nod and sigh. “I…s-saw…in a vision…”
“You saw me?”
I shrug again. Anxiousness swirls in my chest; is Gordy going to be offended again? “I’m sorry,” I rasp.
After a long pause, he replies, “You don’t have to be sorry. I should be.”
“Why?”
“You can’t control your visions.”
With a nod, I reply, “Taina…divination witch.”
“Seb told me. She’s his best friend. She had the vision?”
“No…but like…t-t-tea leaves…” The words are even more uncomfortable than usual, but Gordy hasn’t left yet. That has to bode well, right?
“She allowed you to see a vision in tea leaves.”
I nod quickly and smile at him. “Ah. So, just to reiterate: you were looking for a familiar, and Taina gave you the tea leaves to do it. And the vision showed you someone who looked like me? A turtle man?”
Tapping my cup, I softly reply, “Just about.”
“Ah. Well, vision aren’t…aren’t always one-hundred percent accurate.”
“True,” I reply. Disappointment blooms in my chest, but so what if he’s not my familiar? It feels like we’re becoming genuine friends. Coldblooded was my friend, and it turns out he’s part of my wider coven. That’s gotta count for something, right?
“Still, I’m sorry for the way I lashed out at you.” I shoot him a quizzical expression, and Gordy continues, “I didn’t let you talk the day we met. I should have been more open, more friendly, more understanding.”
“N-no,” I stammer.
“Yes, I should have. Maybe if I had acted more mature, we could have been friends sooner. You’re a local witch, and you’re also Speakeasy. Clearly, we have a lot in common. And I kind of started us off on the wrong foot.”
