Internet 24

THROUGH KATE'S EYES

Marcy and I sit at the table while the boys order our food. I double-check my backpack to make sure the papers inside are dry; they are. I should have left it inside the car, but you never know when I would need the stuff inside.

Marcy is processing her thoughts. One by one, I hear the CRACK of her finger. A nervous habit I have asked her to stop as it can damage her finger in the future. Plus, they leave you with the phantom numbness that makes your joints feel swollen.

The best thing I can do is be a supportive friend and listen to her vent. I occasionally throw a question in to help slow her mind down before it derails. I don't mind listening. I get to know some sweet gossip, and in the end, Marcy feels better. That's all I want.

MARCY

He... pulled it out. He pulled the doll out. Why does he think that's okay.

KATE

I heard this place has good curly fries.

MARCY

I would be down for that, but I'm in the mood for mozzarella sticks.

MARCY

Plus, my dad keeps texting, worrying if I am going back on the road. I get it, but he should know I won't.

KATE

You're like... are you good?

MARCY

I'm good. Never said how I felt out loud before.

KATE

It's never easy. So, when are we breaking Nemo's hearts?

Marcy leans back. Her hands move away from me to fidget the bottom of her shirt. Her eyes focus on me as she stays silent. SHIT. I shouldn't have said that so cheerfully. I need to tone it down. This is real for her. I shift my tone to stern.

MARCY

Don't say it like that. I don't want to hurt him.

KATE

It's going to hurt him; recognize that. Once you do, it'll be easy. Don't forget I have your back, so let me show...

I hover my hand over an empty spot in front of me on the table. The hazel of my eyes flushes away, and grey pours into its spot. Of course, I can't see it happen, but I know this happening. Colors bleed from the air and wrap around my hands. It looks like velvet ribbons composed of a kaleidoscope of colors, but I feel the salt of warm ocean water.

My mind is focused, and I'm not the only one. Marcy is mesmerized by the colors. I get it. I would sit on the couch, hold my hand up, and let the ribbons dance on my hands. Marcy hasn't looked away...in a while.

Oh god, is this weird? It's magic. It should be cool. It is cool. My face is starting to feel hotter.

MARCY

You good, Kate?

KATE

I realized I have never done magic in front of you, and I started thinking and l-like what if you think it's lame compared to Lou and-

Marcy's smile spreads over her face, and her eyes glimmer. She is like a kid as she is jumping in her chair. This high energy helps ease my nerves.

MARCY

You're finally doing magic! I didn't know you made it this far.

KATE

I have been practicing day and night and want to show you.

I whisper words Marcy doesn't understand, and the ribbons seep into the table. The spell book Lou let me borrow floats up out of a pool of black bubbles. Marcy leans over, astonished by the pool. The table is only a few inches thick, but the pool is bottomless and as deep as the ocean.

The book itself is a sight to see. The cover and biding resemble a sunken ship with rotting wood. From the cracks of wood, Octopus tentacles slither out. I don't mean plastic tentacles for aesthetics. I mean real tentacles. I pulled hard on one once, and a full octapose laded on my bed. I ate well that week. Finally, barnacles and golden seashells adorn the rim and spine of the book.

I opened the book and started flipping pages, knowing what I left was between the pages. I don't remember which, but hopefully, it's not too deep.

KATE

This is an advanced book Lou let me borrow. Its pages are filled with his people's magic and history.

It has stuff about the creatures in the sea, like the Kraken, the Starfish King, and many spells. So tell me, what did he do?

MARCY

It's not as easy as something he did.

KATE

Three years is a long time, relatively, I guess. It's a good chunk of time.

Marcy can't look at me as she speaks. I get it. Lou sometimes gets me heated. Really, only when he is around Marcy. Outside of her, he's cool. With her, he becomes an infuriating dude who needs to think more before he speaks. For a dude who is a master spell caster, he doesn't understand the power of his words.