The Basement - 9
Calvin spent the next week in relative bliss, enjoying not only his time at school but also his time with Eva in class. Thoughts of the dream he had the other night tickled his memories for a few days before fading away, although more so the parts involving Eva than anything else. She had improved tremendously in her telekinesis lessons, and they had advanced from pencils to chalkboard erasers to books, and were now working on desks and chairs. Eva found it easy to relax and focus, with Mr. O'Leary's teaching and Calvin's encouragement pushing her to do better and praising her for her accomplishments. She had a real knack for it that was starting to shine through. Calvin also enjoyed the time they spent just talking, as he had been able to learn so much about this girl that he had quite the crush on. He started to suspect the feeling was mutual. There was a definite spark between them. It manifested it the small glances they'd steal at one another when they thought each other wasn't looking, in the way Eva would ask for more advice from Calvin even though she was getting the hang of it. And in the way that they started walking with each other after school, taking their time getting from the classroom to their lockers, both of their lockers, and down to the bus stop where Eva would say goodbye and wave to Calvin from her window seat on the bus. She always tried to grab a seat facing out toward the sidewalk now, just so she could wave at him one last time before returning home.
One day they took a bit too long and Eva barely made it to the bus before it started away without her. They had been absorbed in conversation, both finding it easy and comfortable to talk to each other.
"Eva, can I ask you, why you haven't practiced much at home, with your parents?" Calvin said. He was leaning against the lockers next to Eva, as she piled up the books that she wouldn't need for the evening and pulled out the ones she would for homework.
"Honestly, they just didn't want me doing much before I got into this class. They're a bit old-fashioned like that, I guess," she answered. She pulled her Algebra book from its place at the bottom of the pile of books. The cover showed a student sitting at a table with the book open, looking up at the letters and numbers floating around above him. The look on his face was way too excited for any kind of math that Calvin had ever done.
Eva continued, "It's not that they don't like magic. They use it all the time, although nothing major. I think they just wanted to make sure I was safe, is all. Can't have anything to happen to their baby girl..." Her eyes widened a bit at the last few words, adding to the subtle sarcasm in her tone.
"I understand that," said Calvin, his eyes dropping as he remembered what his parents told him about the accident he had when he was an infant. He still didn't quite understand it himself, even though they had told him various bits and pieces of the story over the years. Maybe he would ask them again sometime. He had a constant reminder of it, in the form of the potion that he took every morning, and even though it was a small thing, a slight annoyance at worst, he found himself wondering if it was really doing anything for him, at all. He felt fine, as far as he could tell. He was able to do everything other kids could do, although he found that once he was able to produce magic he was more of a natural aptitude for it than other kids. Was that a by-product of the potion, or was it just his own talent, he wondered.
When Calvin walked into school the following Monday morning, he found the place has transformed almost overnight. No longer were the halls a boring cream and off-white color; instead they were adorned with streamers of various blues, green, and purples. All pastels. Banners and posters had been hung, announcing the upcoming Spring Formal. The theme this year would be known as Aquatica, and the school was getting ready for it in style.
Calvin still had not asked Eva to the dance; a thought that weighed heavier and heavier on his mind with each passing moment. Kate had been his own personal cheerleader, trying to push him to make his move but, so far, to no avail. Even Richie had gotten in on the action, trying his best to persuade his friends in between rounds of games at night or during their lunch period together.
"Come on, Cal, what are you waiting for? If you don't ask soon someone else is going to do it instead. Heck, I might even go ask her if you don't!" Calvin shot Richie a glare that could melt ice. Richie recoiled in surprise, although they both knew that Richie would never dream of stepping in on a girl that Calvin liked, and vice versa.
"I have to agree with Richie on this one, Cal. You're working on a timer here," added Kate. She absent-mindedly picked up a scoop of macaroni and cheese on her fork and slid it into her mouth. The cafeteria, where they sat, had been decorated just like the rest of the school, and large lobster, clam, and fish cutouts hung from the ceiling on various colored strings, adding to the oceanic theme of the upcoming dance.
"So are you, last time I checked, "Said Calvin. He knew they were joking, but he didn't like being ganged up on by his friends, even if they had good reason for it. He tried to divert the conversation, at least for a bit.
"Actually, I'm not. I have a date to the dance, thank you very much." Richie and Calvin looked at Kate, not able to hide their surprise. It wasn't that she was a bad catch or something. Quite the opposite, actually. Calvin and Richie both found Kate to be very attractive, with her long, dark hair and blackish-brown eyes that always seemed to know if they were up to something, and getting to know her through the years had been one of the best parts of school for both of them, but they just couldn't think of her as anything other than one of their best friends. The idea of her going to the dance with anyone was foreign to them.
"Are you joking? Who asked you?" Richie asked incredulously. Kate elbowed him hard in the ribs, causing a small squeal to escape his lips. "Ow, damn Kate, you got me good." Richie put his sandwich down and began rubbing his side.
"Yes, I'm serious, Richie. And for your information, I'm going with Nathan Gerling," said Kate, finishing her mac and cheese. Without another word she polished off her milk, stood up and walked away, taking her tray with her.
"I don't think she's coming back," said Richie, still rubbing his side where Kate had elbowed him, wincing a bit.
"Yeah, probably not," said Calvin. He watched her toss her food scraps and trash into the bin by the serving line, set her tray on the growing pile next to it, and walk out the door to the side lawn of the school, letting a stream of sunlight wash over her and into the large room momentarily as the door opened and then closed behind her. "Maybe you should try being more tactful next time, dude." Richie just shrugged, not knowing quite what to say. It sounded good in his head, as he was genuinely trying to be nice, in his own way, but he knew as soon as he opened his mouth to speak it would come out wrong. This wasn't the first time he'd said something stupid, and wouldn't be the last, Richie was sure of it.
As they were walking out of the lunchroom they passed by the table where Eva and her friends were sitting. She smiled and waved, adding a cheery "Hi Calvin!" as they passed by. Calvin smiled sheepishly and returned the wave, and could hear her friends giggling and talking when they thought he was out of earshot. He looked back and could have sworn he saw Eva blushing. Maybe it was just his imagination.
"Seriously, Cal, you better hurry. You only have three weeks before the dance," Richie said. Calvin knew he was right. He had to hurry or he would miss his chance. "I know, Richie. I'll do it. Soon," Calvin replied.
"Good luck, my friend," Richie said, before parting to his next class.
One day they took a bit too long and Eva barely made it to the bus before it started away without her. They had been absorbed in conversation, both finding it easy and comfortable to talk to each other.
"Eva, can I ask you, why you haven't practiced much at home, with your parents?" Calvin said. He was leaning against the lockers next to Eva, as she piled up the books that she wouldn't need for the evening and pulled out the ones she would for homework.
"Honestly, they just didn't want me doing much before I got into this class. They're a bit old-fashioned like that, I guess," she answered. She pulled her Algebra book from its place at the bottom of the pile of books. The cover showed a student sitting at a table with the book open, looking up at the letters and numbers floating around above him. The look on his face was way too excited for any kind of math that Calvin had ever done.
Eva continued, "It's not that they don't like magic. They use it all the time, although nothing major. I think they just wanted to make sure I was safe, is all. Can't have anything to happen to their baby girl..." Her eyes widened a bit at the last few words, adding to the subtle sarcasm in her tone.
"I understand that," said Calvin, his eyes dropping as he remembered what his parents told him about the accident he had when he was an infant. He still didn't quite understand it himself, even though they had told him various bits and pieces of the story over the years. Maybe he would ask them again sometime. He had a constant reminder of it, in the form of the potion that he took every morning, and even though it was a small thing, a slight annoyance at worst, he found himself wondering if it was really doing anything for him, at all. He felt fine, as far as he could tell. He was able to do everything other kids could do, although he found that once he was able to produce magic he was more of a natural aptitude for it than other kids. Was that a by-product of the potion, or was it just his own talent, he wondered.
When Calvin walked into school the following Monday morning, he found the place has transformed almost overnight. No longer were the halls a boring cream and off-white color; instead they were adorned with streamers of various blues, green, and purples. All pastels. Banners and posters had been hung, announcing the upcoming Spring Formal. The theme this year would be known as Aquatica, and the school was getting ready for it in style.
Calvin still had not asked Eva to the dance; a thought that weighed heavier and heavier on his mind with each passing moment. Kate had been his own personal cheerleader, trying to push him to make his move but, so far, to no avail. Even Richie had gotten in on the action, trying his best to persuade his friends in between rounds of games at night or during their lunch period together.
"Come on, Cal, what are you waiting for? If you don't ask soon someone else is going to do it instead. Heck, I might even go ask her if you don't!" Calvin shot Richie a glare that could melt ice. Richie recoiled in surprise, although they both knew that Richie would never dream of stepping in on a girl that Calvin liked, and vice versa.
"I have to agree with Richie on this one, Cal. You're working on a timer here," added Kate. She absent-mindedly picked up a scoop of macaroni and cheese on her fork and slid it into her mouth. The cafeteria, where they sat, had been decorated just like the rest of the school, and large lobster, clam, and fish cutouts hung from the ceiling on various colored strings, adding to the oceanic theme of the upcoming dance.
"So are you, last time I checked, "Said Calvin. He knew they were joking, but he didn't like being ganged up on by his friends, even if they had good reason for it. He tried to divert the conversation, at least for a bit.
"Actually, I'm not. I have a date to the dance, thank you very much." Richie and Calvin looked at Kate, not able to hide their surprise. It wasn't that she was a bad catch or something. Quite the opposite, actually. Calvin and Richie both found Kate to be very attractive, with her long, dark hair and blackish-brown eyes that always seemed to know if they were up to something, and getting to know her through the years had been one of the best parts of school for both of them, but they just couldn't think of her as anything other than one of their best friends. The idea of her going to the dance with anyone was foreign to them.
"Are you joking? Who asked you?" Richie asked incredulously. Kate elbowed him hard in the ribs, causing a small squeal to escape his lips. "Ow, damn Kate, you got me good." Richie put his sandwich down and began rubbing his side.
"Yes, I'm serious, Richie. And for your information, I'm going with Nathan Gerling," said Kate, finishing her mac and cheese. Without another word she polished off her milk, stood up and walked away, taking her tray with her.
"I don't think she's coming back," said Richie, still rubbing his side where Kate had elbowed him, wincing a bit.
"Yeah, probably not," said Calvin. He watched her toss her food scraps and trash into the bin by the serving line, set her tray on the growing pile next to it, and walk out the door to the side lawn of the school, letting a stream of sunlight wash over her and into the large room momentarily as the door opened and then closed behind her. "Maybe you should try being more tactful next time, dude." Richie just shrugged, not knowing quite what to say. It sounded good in his head, as he was genuinely trying to be nice, in his own way, but he knew as soon as he opened his mouth to speak it would come out wrong. This wasn't the first time he'd said something stupid, and wouldn't be the last, Richie was sure of it.
As they were walking out of the lunchroom they passed by the table where Eva and her friends were sitting. She smiled and waved, adding a cheery "Hi Calvin!" as they passed by. Calvin smiled sheepishly and returned the wave, and could hear her friends giggling and talking when they thought he was out of earshot. He looked back and could have sworn he saw Eva blushing. Maybe it was just his imagination.
"Seriously, Cal, you better hurry. You only have three weeks before the dance," Richie said. Calvin knew he was right. He had to hurry or he would miss his chance. "I know, Richie. I'll do it. Soon," Calvin replied.
"Good luck, my friend," Richie said, before parting to his next class.
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