Most of the guys in the room are from the soccer team, though there are a few faces I only recognize from the gym. Apparently, panic-training season has officially begun.
As I pull my shirt off, I can’t help but call out to the room, “Hey, what do you guys think about soulmates?”
“I’ll only accept it if mine is hot,” Brian says, which earns him a few snickers.
“Or rich,” someone else adds. I think it’s one of the football guys, which is fair. Their equipment is expensive.
“Or both!” I don’t see who says it, but laugh all the same.
Rich grins. “My soulmate better be able to shotgun a beer.”
I cackle. Still, I like Colten’s answer better. If anyone deserves a real soulmate, it’s him.
I grab my practice jersey from my locker—
Then blink as I catch a glimpse of Colten before double-checking that I’m not seeing things.
“Colten,” I say slowly. He’s blankly staring into his locker while tying his hair back.
“Yeah?”
“Why are you glowing?”
He pauses, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion, like he’s not sure if he misheard me or not.
“...What?”
As I stare, I realize that, no, I’m not seeing things. His skin is literally radiating light, every inch of his exposed body surrounded by soft white brightness.
“Okay,” I say, trying not to panic. “Important question—have you been bitten by any radioactive spiders recently?”
Colten frowns at me. “Patrick.”
“Dude, you’re literally glowing,” I say urgently, staring at him with wide eyes.
He sighs and turns toward the mirror on a nearby locker before freezing, eyes wide as he takes in the light emitting from his body.
“Colten, the radioactive spiders?” I repeat.
One of the other guys looks over. “What are you two talking about?”
“Do none of you see this?” I wave my hand dramatically in front of Colten.
“See what?” Rich asks, squinting at us.
“Colten is a flashlight!”
The whole locker room looks over.
The glow is dimming now, but it’s still definitely there, yet everyone just looks confused??
“Patrick,” Rich says slowly. “Do you really think Colten will let you off from practice by pretending you have a concussion?”
I look at Colten, who looks back at me, eyes wide. He can see it, I can see it, but obviously none of the others can.
And then our eyes widen at the exact same time as we both realize what happened.
“Magic is real!” I shout.
