NOVEL NEXT Loophole (Part 3)
THROUGH ADAM'S EYES
They all, minus MARCY, are at the table. Lou Is putting his jacket on the chair. It might be me, but he looks sad he has to be dry now. Manny's jacket is already on the chair, and he pulls out Kate's chair.
KATE
Do you think we can make the concert?
MARCY
It's outside. I'll check if it's canceled.
A thunder's boom startles everyone except Lou, and myself of course. I turn to get there drinks, still keeping the phone to my ear, even though i am no longer listening and keeping my eye on the group. Can never trust anyone.
Marcy turns to Lou, who doesn't get up but speaks from the table.
MARCY
Lou, is there anything you can do?
LOU
It would cost a finger.
I place the drinks on the counter, with the cell phone still in the crook neck. What Lou said sticks in my mind. "Cost a finger?" Was that a threat? It has to be, right? What else could it be? I respond to the phone with reassurance that we will watch TV together or whatever she asks. I'll figure that out later and let Marcy know the drinks are up.
Manny gets up to help her with the drinks. They make it the table. Lou has his face buried in his phone as Kate reaches out to grab the drink in Marcy's hand.
MANNY
I actually got your drink.
He hold Kate's drink out to her. She grabs it with a smile.
KATE
Thanks, does it already have-
MANNY
Two sugars, you know it.
She gives him a sweet smile, and the kid eats it all up. God, hes one of those types. I know them all too well. Smitten beyond belief and deep in her sauce. It's endearing in a way if it wasn't so naïve. My number one rule in relationships. Doesn't matter who you are, don't lose yourself in the relationships. Its two people, not one.
MARCY
I just saw online that the concert—
LOU
It's canceled. The area's flooded. Don't worry about paying. Since we are not going, we should eat here. Open a tab. We're going to order some food first.
MARCY
I wasn't going to keep driving in this weather,
but we could have put it up to a vote, Lou.
Marcy is at the table with everyone else, finally taking off her wet jacket. Kate moves her hands up and down while twiddling her fingers like she imitates pixie dust falling as shespeaks.
KATE
Can't you fix that, Lou? You with your... "talents."
LOU
Kate, you know that's not how it works.
Fixing the flood would cost at least
one finger or half a thumb.
Ok, that did it. That had to be a threat, a code, or some crap. I whisper a love you to the phone call and hang up. They were mid-sentence when I ended the call, but this is pressing. I'll deal with that later.
I raise my raise both of my hands and slam them down on the counter. The SLAP jolts everyone's head to be. For a group of people talking about severing fingers, they look shocked.
ADAM
Stop that. I don't want anyone to
threaten anyone in my business, got it?
Lou is nervous as he starts to defend himself. Saying how it's all good. Idk if it's because i am far from the table, but i swear some of his teeth are sharp. I mean little ivory daggers embedded in his gums.
Marcy stands up and smiles, trying to defuse the situation.
MARCY
This isn't what you think. He wasn't threatening her.
LOU
I was explaining how the rules of a deal work.
ADAM
What deal are you talking about?
LOU
The "Little Mermaid Ursula" kind of deal.
They sell themselves to a sea witch because... I am one.
The storm is the only thing I can hear. Lou's face is sensier, as is Marcy's. Kate is giving a sly smirk while nodding.
My eyes then lock on Manny, who is as confused as I am. I chuckle as that is the worst bull crap I have ever heard, and I let them know.
One, we are in Austin, far as hell from the ocean. What if he got beached and then lost in Texas? Did he get so lost he went up the river to here, but I never heard of a river witch.
Next, his vibe doesn't scream "sea witch". It's more of a cocky rocker kid with too many rings. Lastly, that's dumb. Full stop.
He takes all my words with a gritted smile. The whole table chuckles at what I said, except Manny, who can't tell if this is a joke.
MANNY
Marcy, you're dating a demon?
LOU
Sea Witch.
MANNY
You're dating a Sea witch?