Goodbye Normal (18 page)

Zoe tilted her head and rolled her eyes at him. Not interested in sharing anything. She was matter of fact saving him so many nightmares.

“Huh” he covered his mouth “You’re pregnant?” he guessed mockingly.

She rolled her eyes again “No I’m not! She shook her head denying “what gave you that crazy idea?” wondering in between chuckles.

“You look… sick and pale, and you’ve been waggling your legs as if you are nervous or like you wanna pee or something…What else could it be huh?” Harry pried.

“No I’m not Harry” seeing he’s unsatisfied face, she added “Really”

“I don’t believe you?...okay if it’s not that then… Ooh nooo!” he made another I gotcha face.

“What now?”

“You started using…” Zoe watched him getting all delusional in his guessing games “you know…drugs.”

“Hell nooo!” she laughed this time jerking her neck backwards absently.

“Now that’s more like it, you really got me worried when I was looking over from the counter” he explained standing.

“Thanks Harry, but am okay.” she lied.

“Then don’t stop smiling.” he advised friendly.

“Ok I won’t.” she promised.

Harry strolled to two tables in front of her. It was occupied by a fancy looking couple that had just walked in.  The man was in his late forties and the lady was probably mid to early thirties or the late forties she was truly supposed to be. They looked like tourist judging from their clothes to their demeanor.  Or possibly they were new Doomsbergers. Zoe became rueful on their behalf when she mulled over her last guess. It was the wrong time to be in Doomsberg. She overlooked the fact that it had always been that way. She had just been on the ungifted side of the world.

“Chris” she beckoned, after seeing him pop in from outside.

He walked long fast steps that took him a heartbeat to get to her table.

“Hey I came as soon as I got the message, what’s up? What happened in the park? He looked mystified.

“How did you know….oh” She mulled and remembered they used to have the tradition together.

“Anyway,” she stood collecting her belongings “I can’t talk here let’s take a walk.”

“Okay”

“We’ll be back in five” Zoe said looking at Harry.

Harry opened his mouth in fake shock…widening his eyes at Zoe then veered then to Chris. Zoe shook her head, shrugged and muffled a laugh, understanding his subtle gesture.

When they were outside, didn’t speak until they were far enough from captive ears. They ambled slowly on the sidewalk of a boulevard. There was a smatter of pedestrians minding their own business.

“What’s the emergency?”

“When I was in the park, I reckon not seeing anybody but am sure I felt someone watching me”

Chris stopped walking; he looked like he was considering a possibility

His shook his head muttering “No it can’t be…”

Zoe stopped walking too when he did.

“What…what cannot be, what are you talking about?” Zoe poked.

He resumed walking, and Zoe followed his lead.

“Its not important, but-”

“If it concerns this issue then it’s important, now please tell me” she demanded.

He shrugged and grimaced.

“What is it Chris, come on?” she insisted.

“Am…” he breathed in “look, I didn’t wanna scare you, but every 22
^nd
after every three months from January Darkeel releases his ghosts. So I thought I…”

“Scare me!” Zoe glared at him in amazement “and you thought that’s not important… how?”

“Ugh.” he looked tongue tied.

“These are ghosts we are talking about. That is important. So what do these ghosts do?”

“They feed.” he glowered at her “on corpse’s blood” he uttered in disgust.

Zoe felt shivers oh her body, she swallowed absently. How much worse could it get. Every moment she gave thought to her inconceivable events, or was about something new she would hope that it was the final blow. Sad news was she kept getting it all wrong. More ugly unwanted surprises kept recurring from whichever hideout they were stored.

Chris peered around for any passing ear around them then continued explaining some more.

“Humeleons can actually see them, the rest of us are only able to see their shadows and some witches could feel their presence.”

“How do you feel their presence.” the second her question was out of her lips, she had already figured the answer.

“Just the way you felt somebody’s presence in park…”

If he was capable of keeping that from her, there is a possibility there were some unicorns hidden somewhere in Desolia.

“What other creatures should I be aware of?” she asked coldly.

“That’s about it” her face was disbelieving, he added “I promise…” with hands held high in surrender “At least that’s what I know.”

“Gosh” she was perplexed. What kind of a world were they living.

“I don’t understand your reasons for keeping that from me. And here I am hoping that am done with those kinda surprises” she grumbled.

“It was wrong not to tell you,” Chris confessed “I had two years to learn about what you had to digest in three weeks and that was kinda harsh so I-”

Zoe interrupted his defense by making an angry halt in front of him.

They had walked a short distance from Joe’s, and there was somebody coming toward them at slow pace.

“So you took it upon your protective self and assumed it’ll just go away because your not telling me?...This is serious Chris and you know it. Its people’s lives that are on stake here. People we care about, people we’ve known all our lives. You do not have to protect me against everything…I have my own battle to fight.” She rebuked him with clenched teeth.

After her anger was fully vented, she noticed Chris was trying to conceal his pain.

She closed her eyes, tried calming her nerves by breathed in and out. She was about to apologize for her boldness when he outdid her.

“I messed up, your right I should have said something.”

Then he was hesitant.

God damn it “Just say it.” she urged him looking fallen by the wayside.

He was bleak as though he still had something disturbing to tell her.

“What is it…I know that look, so just say it?” she urged forcing her tone to be as composed as possible.

“You have to decide soon about the shifters, It should be done by Saturday…”

Oh that! “Shit, that’s day after tomorrow?”

“Yes.” he nodded absently.

“Well I’ve given it a thought and I’ve already decided that I will”

He closed his eyes, his face relieved “that is the right thing, whatever happens we are in this together”

“Yeah I know” she murmured, kinda relieved that it was not about some talking bees.

“Yesterday I got attacked!” she decided to drop her own bag of not so surprising events on him. Hoping not to hear a -you see, should have agreed to go with me!

His Jaw tightened. “Who…Where, did they hurt you?”

Oh…he’s a guy! “Yeah still hurts, got me a punch in the jaw… it was in between that bushy road, heading home”  

“Shit…do you remember the attackers?”

“Clear as day, they were three, two blacks and one white” she said “Oh and I realized something new about my powers… I cannot harm ungifted people without the pendant”

 “How did you know that?”

“Yesterday, that’s when I was trying to defend myself from the attackers. I channeled my powers to them and it only affected the witch”

 “That’s just a warning Zoe. Now that they know who you are, it’ll get nasty. Who knows what their master will reward them for the necklace.”

“Second in command.” she assumed humorously. “You know I have been wondering, since I’m the one who has the power to return their masters ability, why would they want the pendant instead of me?”

“I don’t know… we have to ask Maydith or Krukton probably, But I don’t have the slightest idea.”

“We’ll have to discourse it to them.”

She twisted her lips and sighed.

“All this witchy stuff has got me starving.”

“Good. Let’s officially begin our date.” he said, with a sweet boyish grin walking back to the restaurant.

“I thought we called it quits.” she acted annoyed.

“Nope. not me…you did.”

“You’re so persistent...it’s annoying.”

“Say what you want. Call me names…I don’t care.” he winked.

They got back at Joe’s, before she could advanced to a table, Chris turned to ask her.

“Are you dieting or something?”

She raised her brow in reply.

“Harry bring over two plates of fries and burgers.” He ordered. Zoe stared at him in disbelief.

“Coming right up.”

“Why did you just order for me?” she inquired walking to an empty table.

“You just said your hungry.” Chris answered sharply. 

“So? Does that disqualify my right of choice?” she asked scooting on the seat.

“No. I was doing you a favor, but you would have ended up choosing salads, which I assure you, will make you look meager and that not in a good…so instead you should thank my choice”

“Why are you being so bossy!” she said.

“Girls! Your such complicated creatures, I just made your work easier and instead of a thank you, your bitching?” he quetched.

“Unbelievable” Zoe rolled her eyes at him.

She got a text from Josh saying

 
We should do it right this time

She replied back
do what right?
while musing over his text.

“Hey does your mom still hate me?” Chris asked, watching her.

Zoe was absent. Evidently she wasn’t with him at the moment.

Josh had replied
meeting…can I take you out tonight just to hang...

She relied back
What do you have in mind?

“Did you hear a thing I said? Who are you texting?”

“Oops sorry, it Josh…”

“Josh..?” Chris inquired, hanging his palm midair.   

“Oh…when he went to dooms high, you had not joined…he’s and old friend” the friend part felt heavy for her tongue. But she had no explanation to make it sound less weird.

They were not quiet eligible in the friend zone, neither had they started that journey. She truthfully wasn’t sure what they were.

“You dating this dude?” she noticed the question came out of him with so much prudence.

“No, we’re just hanging out.” she replied hastily. There was nothing to think about. No complications whatsoever.

“Oh… so you not dating nobody?” she saw that he was in sheer hope for a favorable response. 

She shook her head “Not a soul.” she whispered.

“Good” he flashed her a smile, a heart melting smile. He was downright happy.

She flushed to it, amazed that she still had a thing for him.

Another message broke the intimate second.

Josh…
for starters
we could go for movies, dinner and… I guess that’s it.

Zoe…
lol, K…let’s do it right.
She accompanied sending it with a smile.

“He must be quiet amusing.” Chris commented watching her with an unreadable face.

“Are you jealous?” She asked, watching his reaction.

Chris was saved from answering by Harry.

Chris and Harry shared common basketball interest. So they chattered around about Oklahoma hot spurs and Miami Heats and whatever else that circulated the NBA season finale as she minded her ghost, humeleon and witch business. She silently savored her burger and fries without interruptions. He jaw was still a pain, but the taste made it all manageable. All she had to do was listen to them, reply irrelevant texts from Liz and Josh and eat her meal.

Eventually basketball was done as topic of discussion for the day. Apparently that was until Monica threatened Harry to leave him working alone for the rest of their shift. Zoe and Chris left Joe’s and spent the rest of the afternoon at the flower shop. She got to see his magic fist hand and learned a thing or two about it.

First of, he made her chew on some bitter herb for her gum and jaw. Then with precise elaborations, after her confession, he taught her how not to cause a fire while lighting a single candle. She felt so stupid when she reminisced over herself made fire. All she had to do was reverse the spell, instead she run out for a bucket of water.

They channeled both their energies and relished them over floating pots and flying roses. It was ludicrous but fun. Best of all was that it was fitting properly and dwelling rightfully within her the panorama of having magic. It felt normal to be a witch.

For the first time Zoe experienced having a bud bloom on her hand, the feeling left her speechless. It was a happy tear experience for her. One that deserved a page on ‘best experiences’ notebook. The power of her hands was immaculate but only if used for the right reasons.

Chris told her that magic was well within her being. She had the power to do with it as she pleased. He then led her to believe that self control, positive motive and respect for the ungifted would help her use it for a greater course. All she had to do was believe and have the will.

Despite all odds, Zoe realized Chris was in fact the perfect mentor. The coven leaders did a great job picking him for her.

Time was sweeping away and she had an appointment to catch up to. She bought the colorful mix of primroses and it was time to go. 

“Thanks for today...it was really educative.” she said beaming.

He tilted his head in response then bit his lip absently. Unforeseeably, Zoe’s heart skipped a bit.

They hugged fondly but when they were midway from breaking out of it, their eyes met. Chris’s hazel warmth got her baby blue’s weakening. The sensuous pressure between them was building up with every melting second. She could feel his breath quickening and all the midget hair on her neck stood erect. She gazed at his thin lips and knew that she needed to recall the faded memory of his lips on her. It has been two good years! How did she survive not feeling the tingles and butterflies again? It was probably not the best time to muse over digits and missed opportunities, rather grab them. Chris was slowly inclining his neck forward. 

“Chris….” A lady’s soprano called out for him.

A wee moment of flushes condensed the atmosphere as they broke away completely.