Chapter 8- Gordy
I’M PLAYING ONLINE via my Hot Water program, as I regularly do most afternoons.
And evenings. And some nights and mornings.
I really ought to get a job. But I can’t exactly show my face.
My freelance yardwork gigs back home were a good way to earn some spending money, so maybe I should look for that here in Virginia.
It’s not like I’m going to be palling around at the Union of Mages anytime soon.
Speakeasy : How is your day so far? How are your new roommates?
I smile at the message on my screen. Something has shifted in the past week since I failed the wizarding exam.
Maybe it’s the unfamiliarity of my new home, or maybe it’s me trying to forget about that cute, perplexing, doe-eyed witch boy, Loxley, but I’m leaning more and more into my online friendship.
Speakeasy just gets me in a way no one else has. I’m aware I’m a grumpy turtle, and therefore shit at making friends. But SE doesn’t make me feel that way. He makes me feel like I can be a social person, a friend. Maybe even a boyfriend…
Me: They’re cool. They buy me lots of food.
SE: That’s good to hear.
SE: Where you living now?
Me: A smaller city in Virginia.
SE: Hey, I moved to Cosmo, Virginia.
SE: You wouldn’t happen to live near there, would you?
My heart skips a beat. Speakeasy lives in my city?
Cosmo is huge, but not so big that we couldn’t frequent the same parks and streets.
Is he implying he wants to meet me? When I fantasized about him being my boyfriend, it was all theoretical.
Sure, I let it slip that I’m gay too, but I don’t even know what he looks like?
In the dark screen of the PC, I gaze at my reflection. I’m naked by human standards, since my inner turtle loathes wearing garments, and I run my fingers over my scaly face and hard shell. Even if SE wanted to meet, hang out, or date, there’s no way I could hold my human form long enough.
I can’t meet him. So, I need to lie.
Me: I do.
Dropping the controller, I raise my hands up, like it burns. What was that? I swear, sometimes my libido and inner turtle take over.
SE: Really? Wow! Must be destiny to have all the cool people move here, LOL.
SE: You and me, that is.
Me: Yup!
SE: Did you wanna meet up one day and catch a movie or something?
SE: I’m not very good at making friends in real life, but it would be a nice change of pace.
And there goes my heart racing again. Speakeasy actually wants to meet up with me.
But how am I supposed to show him my face?
“By the way, dude, I’m a massive turtle man, want to touch my shell?
” Yeah, that would go over well. I don’t even enjoy showing magical folks my true form; how much worse would it be for a mortal dude?
Then again, I don’t know how familiar he is with the magical community.
There’s no way he’s a witch, right? So many of us met last week at the Union of Mages, so witches and wizards could be anywhere. The odds of Speakeasy being a nearby mage would be astronomical.
Before I can reply, my phone buzzes. After picking up, I say, “Hello?”
“Gordy! Honey, how are you?”
“I’m alright. How are you and Papa?” I stand up and let Mama’s voice fill my ears.
As I gaze out at the backyard, she regales me on the everyday lives of her coven of older witches.
She and Papa are doing well and in good health, facts that I’m thankful for every day.
And they seem to really get along with the witches their own age in North Carolina.
But what about me? I’ve been presented with so many opportunities to make magical friends, and yet my anti-social tendencies keep reappearing.
“And have you been hanging out with young witches your age?” Mama asks.
I snicker as I idly gaze out the window. “Are you a mind-reader?”
“No. I’m simply a witch looking out for you. I divined that you would make close relationships over there in Cosmo.”
“Mama,” I whine. “I told you not to divine me.” She knows I hate it when she sees bits and pieces of my future. Total invasion of privacy.
“Boy, I raised you since you were a baby turtle. I’ll look out for you however I please. Besides, you know I don’t see specifics, not without your blood.”
“And yet you admit to divining me?”
“Whatever I see won’t come true unless you come out of your shell. Literally.”
“Ha-ha,” I deadpan. “Never heard that one before.”
“I’m serious, boy,” Mama says, and I can almost hear the serious look on her face. “You ought to be social.”
“It’s hard to be social when you have a massive tail like a freak.”
“Gordy Lee, you are not a freak. Never have been. You mean to tell me you’re not meeting any young witches or wizards?”
I bristle. “Not particularly.”
“Not even at the Union of Mages competency exam?” My mouth falls, but she continues, “You can’t keep secrets from me.”
“How did you know?”
“I chat with Kai sometimes.”
I frown. “Then you know I failed the exam.”
“Not a problem. There will be other exams.”
“It’s cool. The only spell I care about is glamouring.”
“Oh, but there’s so much more you can do.”
“Apparently not,” I murmur. Mama doesn’t like that I have no deep interest in spellcasting, so I should probably drop the subject. “I’ll just keep, um, studying.”
“That’s great, dear, but I’m concerned for your well-being. There are young witches in your cohort. Are you befriending them?”
Loxley’s precious face fills my memory. He may have been the dick who called me his familiar, but he also failed the exam. Something about him makes me feel like he’s almost as lonely as I am. I’m sure his speech impediment makes socializing difficult for him as well. Why am I drawn to him?
“Not yet, but…I’ll try.” I rub my head as Mama finishes talking about what she and Papa are up to. When I hang up, I recall that I left my online buddy hanging. He asked to meet up, and I kind of ghosted him.
Checking the game, I notice he messaged “Gotta run, let me know later, yeah?” and that he’s not online anymore.
“Today is going to be totally relaxing,” Seb says, sitting back on the lawn chair. “Don’t sweat it. There’s nothing to be ashamed of just because you technically didn’t pass the competency exam.”
“I’m not ashamed,” I say, crossing my arms. He frowns, and I relax in the seat next to him.
It’s been an hour since I chatted with Mama, and as I promised Kai, I’m now taking magic lessons from Seb.
My roommates have been nothing but helpful and chill, graciously letting me live here rent-free, so I should be more polite.
“So, you’re a late-bloomer, so what?” Seb says with a point. “You’re related to the great Jade Lion. In no time, I’m sure you’ll have arcana dripping from your turtle claws!” He laughs, and even I have to grin.
“Alright, magic lessons.”
“Right.” Seb takes out his hand and puts his fingers up, like he’s holding an invisible ball. “Try conjuring some energy.” In moments, yellow light flickers around Seb’s fingers.
I sigh and mirror him. Concentrating on my green fingers, I attempt to feel for magic. Come on, light up…
After ten seconds of nothing, I sit back and let out a frustrated breath. Seb cringes and says, “Sorry, man.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t curse me to be a giant turtle devoid of magic.”
“But still,” Seb replies. He flexes his hand a tiny green fire floats up, then disappears. “We promised to help you with stuff. I was sure that being around us would spark something. Since you guys are kin.”
I shrug and wipe my face. “I’m not the Jade Lion. I’m the Ruby Turtle, whatever that means. Maybe magic skipped me.”
Seb frowns with concern, then hops up and takes out his phone. “We’ll keep at it, Gordy. I’ll get the door, you keep trying.”
He leaves, and I’m left alone in the backyard. After trying to spark any modicum of magic, I give up and gaze at the sky. I wonder what Speakeasy is doing right now. Even if he wasn’t interested in me romantically, gaining a friend would be awesome. Someone I could really talk to about my problems.
A shiver runs down my spine when I hear people walking through the backyard. “There’s more space in the back,” Seb says. “Kai’s not here, and I don’t wanna, like, burn anything down.”
“Makes sense,” Lisbeth replies.
I sit up straight when I see the face trailing behind Seb and Lisbeth. Loxley is in my backyard, looking equal parts nervous and apologetic. Admittedly, in his dark hoodie and skinny jeans, I find him delectable.
“I think it would be better if we practice together.” Seb hooks his thumb back to Loxley. “Loxley didn’t pass either. We’re all one greater Boysen House coven, and witches are stronger together.”
“Yes, even though we have geo arcanum now.” Lisbeth claps her hands and points at me while Loxley slowly looks around.
His proximity once again has my pulse racing.
“Witches need to stick together; we have for centuries. It’s how we honed our witchcraft.
Once you pass the examination, you’ll get a magical rock attuned only to you.
But none of that matters if you can’t master basic spells. ”
Lisbeth smiles at me, and I try not to appear too uncomfortable. “So what have we done so far?”
“Not much,” Seb says. He points to a chair, and Loxley sits down. “Just trying solo energy manipulation.”
“It would be easier if it were nighttime and we could easily channel the full moon,” Lisbeth remarks, pointing up at the setting summer sun. “Oh, right, I forgot you’re not a witch. You should be able to pull your own arcana since you’re just like the all-powerful Jade Lion.”
“We’re working on it,” Seb says through gritted teeth. He has the decency to shoot Lisbeth a look that says, “shut the hell up,” and I appreciate his discretion.