11. Mavrik
Mavrik
A Brief Introduction to Human Connection
My steps echo as I jog around the lake. The moon hasn’t set, casting shadows on the trail.
My headphones are playing a song I’m trying to learn the dance to, but I can’t hear it.
Instead, my thoughts are circling. Every word from class yesterday repeats in my mind as I try to remember the exact sound of her laugh.
The shadows replay it, her head tilted back. My own laughter echoes. Something I was unaware I could still do.
“Why do you guys like her?” I ask. Wondering for the thousandth time if they knew I was thinking the same thing. Sometimes they do exactly what I intend, others, they do whatever they want.
They don’t answer me, just warn me of a root on the path ahead. I try to focus on my music, unable to believe that a single interaction with another human being is enough to send me into a tizzy.
After my laps I head to combat class. I scan the room, convinced I saw her here yesterday. Wondering if I’m actually losing my mind. Her braid bounces into the gym and she approaches coach. He sends her over to work with his TA Max. He must be trying to get her to quit.
I move through the motions of the routine, just good enough that no one corrects me, not good enough that anyone notices. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Max telling her to move tires that are easily double her weight. It’s an impossible task for anyone but a goblin. Meant to teach teamwork.
She looks around, I almost forget to move as she grabs a barbell and a weight, putting it next to the tire and using it as a fulcrum to lift the tire.
By inches she lifts it, sliding a step platform under it as it moves.
Max is staring at her in complete confusion as the tire echoes loudly around the room as it finishes a full flip.
Thea moves her little setup and starts again. At the end of class the tire is halfway across the track. Not at the goal. Still farther than any single person has ever gotten it in this class. Coach goes over and lectures her like she failed. Her triumphant smile doesn’t waver.
After my shower I grab a protein shake and head to calculus early. The cafeteria has never been somewhere I could linger.
The class is filing in as the shadows start to whip around excitedly. I hold them tightly as she comes in and takes a seat beside me.
“Morning, Mavrik,” she greets warmly.
She has a bunch of classes with you. It’s not a big deal.
I lower my head for a second in acknowledgment. Unwilling to speak around the rest of the class. But then I lose the battle to hold the shadows. Three escape and go to loop around her wrist. Crap. I try and pull them away before she notices.
“Hi, little guy,” she whispers, letting it move to circle between her fingers.
Their attention to her is concerning.
Class starts, and I’m finally able to regain my shadows.
I scold them. They’re unrepentant. My day creeps by.
When I get to Spiritborne History I take my usual seat in the back, dodging a ball of water someone sends my way.
She walks into the class and I’m still undecided if I want her to notice me or not.
She takes a seat and starts sharpening her pencil. I let out a slow breath, disappointed. The teacher starts the lesson and she looks around. When her eyes fall on me, she gives me a half smile and refocuses on her work.
Was she looking for me?
When class is over, Zair Brennan approaches her and strikes up a conversation. My stomach hits the floor. I’m such an idiot. He’d been sitting near me, she was smiling at him, of course she was. I’m out the door and heading for the library, so mad at myself that I want to scream.
I gave up on people years ago. It was idiotic to expect anything to come of it.
“Hey Mav.”
Not today Mavis. I spin angrily on her. Thea jumps back.
“Sorry.” She shrinks back.
Fuck!
“No! Sorry,” I put my hands up in surrender. “I thought you were Mavis, she’s the only one who calls me Mav.”
She studies me for a minute, then nods.
“Let me try again. Hey Mavrik, you heading to the library?” she asks, giving me a small smile.
“Yes.” I study her, confused.
“Want to walk together?” She steps beside me and I fall into step beside her, we walk towards the library in silence. Up the steps and I hold the door for her. “See you in Misfits tomorrow.”
She peels off and walks up the stairs to the second floor. The shadows follow her as I attempt to rein them in. She walks to the stacks of old reference books. Then without pausing straight through one into an ordinary study room.
I snort. Smart girl.
The next afternoon, we get the alert that Misfits is in our classroom that we almost never use, Tennant prefers to move us around. Thea comes into class, her smile lighting up her face as she walks towards me. I look behind me and only see Lennox. I should probably warn her he’s a bog witch.
She takes the seat next to me. I spin, my eyes widening as she smiles at me.
“Hi, does this class always jump around?” she asks.
“Why are you talking to me?” Her face falls. Seriously Mavrik. Why are you acting like it’s an inconvenience?
“Oh,” she says softly. Sharpening her already sharp pencil again. I hear a few of the kids in class snicker. My shadows attempt to comfort her. Traitors.
Thankfully Tennant arrives and gives me time to figure out how to fix this. Unfortunately, she pairs us up immediately and I’m at a loss.
“Okay, she wants us to work on–”
“I’m sorry,” I cut her off. “Please talk to me whenever you want.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She passes me the handout, smiling and chatting as if I wasn’t a huge dweeb and asshole.
After class she packs up. Fuck it. I race after her and fall into step beside her.
“Hey, Firefly, are you heading to the library?”
She gives me a side eye, then nods. We don’t talk, but it feels right.
The next day she says hello again. By Friday I expect it. On Monday, I’m craving it after a weekend without a word.