The Right Thing
Determined to demonstrate civility, Jon sat at Kira’s table for breakfast the following day. “Good morning,” he murmured.
Her spoon paused halfway to her mouth. “Morning.”
Ian gave Jon a baleful stare. “Ah cannae say the morning’s good, nae with a twig imprint on ma cheek from sleeping on the ground.”
“I tried to wake you.”
“Next time we’ll levitate ye into the brine,” Ilene said. “That should do it.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t wake yourself up, as loudly as you were snoring,” Max said.
“Ah donnae snore!”
Jon sprinkled his oatmeal with dried currants and a pinch of sugar.
Quixoran cleared his throat. “Jon and Sela are going home today.”
Although a chorus of protest greeted his announcement, Jon stared into his bowl. He’d completely forgotten he was to leave early. Tomorrow was the hospital’s annual pancake breakfast fundraiser. He and his father were working the griddle.
“I must leave as well,” Kira said.
“You can’t go without playing Dragon Egg at least once, Kira,” Max said.
“That’s right! You can throw the pigment spheres instead of using magic,” Linda said.
“You’d make a perfect Egg,” Lora added. “I want you for my team.”
A cacophony of noise ensued as apprentices vied with one another to explain the rules of the game to Kira and to choose sides. Laughing, she held up her hands for quiet. “If Jon doesn’t mind waiting until after the game, I would be happy to stay.”
“Of course I don’t mind,” he said.
“In that case, you may assemble on the field in thirty minutes,” Quixoran said.
Jon ate his breakfast quickly. Before he could join the others on the field, his grandfather called him aside.
“This may be the last time we speak privately before you leave, Jon. You must return the vanyean seed to me as soon as you are able.”
Jon grew wide-eyed. “Grandfather, I’m barely able to keep up with the other apprentices as it is. I need it for drills!”
“These dreams about Guinn aren’t healthy. In addition, we can presume he may catch glimpses of your life, sooner or later.”
“I’ll… I’ll stick the vanyean seed in the closet when I’m not using it. Summer’s only a few months away. Please let me keep it until then.”
His grandfather peered at him. “I will agree, for now,” he said, finally. “But if you have any other strange dreams, you’re to bring the seed back here immediately.”
“That’s a promise.”
“Now, have you decided what to say to Brett Tanner?”
Jon gulped. “I-I’m not going to see her anymore if that’s what you mean. If we keep our relationship casual, maybe I don’t have to say anything.”
“On this I won’t compromise. You cannot continue your relationship with Brett Tanner on any level,” Quixoran said. “She will be in danger if you do.”
“You don’t think Guinn would hurt his own daughter, do you?”
“I believe him capable of anything.”
Jon’s shoulders slumped. He knew his grandfather was right. For Brett’s sake, he was going to have to break it off completely, the sooner the better.
I would almost rather die.
****
Like a star quarterback, Kira dodged and wove her way up the field. Jon lurked behind a tree, watching her progress. He tossed a large handful of green pigment spheres to the ground and levitated several leaves on top to conceal their location. Then he circled around the side, stepped out into the open, and lobbed a few spheres in Kira’s direction to herd her toward the leaves. As soon as she fell into the trap, Jon exploded the spheres. Kira’s long legs became spattered with green.
“Victory!” he yelled, triumphant. “Green wins.”
Kira approached, outrage etched on her beautiful features. “That isn’t fair, Jon Hansen. If I can’t see the spheres, I can’t evade them.”
Jon gave her a Max-like smirk. “You’re just mad you lost, Princess.”
Kira’s eyes narrowed. She grabbed a handful of red spheres from her pouch and hurled them at Jon’s face. Some of the slime found its way into his mouth. He bent double, spitting out red goo and wiping pigment from his eyes. Worse, he was drenched with humiliation.
“Oooh,” Max hooted. “You’ve been served, Hansen.”
When Jon straightened, he was livid. “You think this is funny, do you?”
“You pegged it before when you called it satisfying.”
“Yeah? Eat this.”
Max staggered backward as the contents of Jon’s pouch spattered him from head to foot. “You cocky little jerk!”
“You’d know all about that,” Jon replied.
Ian stepped between the two and held up his hand. “Back doon. Both o’ ye.”
“Ian, get out of the way,” Jon yelled, his knuckles showing white.
Max lowered his chin and glared. “Better do what he says, Ian. He’s about to get a major attitude adjustment.”
“Oh, Solegra.” Ronny disappeared in a flash.
Apprentices hit the ground as Max and Jon squared off against each other. Max beckoned Jon, an invitation to attack. Just as Jon was gathering up a wave of force, Ronny reappeared with Quixoran.
“What’s going on here?” he bellowed.
Jon’s energy evaporated but his anger remained. Max’s eyes were like slits in his face. Quixoran gave the two pigment-covered apprentices appraising looks.
“Jon, get cleaned up at the Grotto. Max, you take a swim in the ocean. I’m disappointed in you both.”
Without a word or a glance at anyone, Jon disappeared.
****
Jon kicked off his shoes, peeled his shirt off over his head and dove into the grotto clad only in shorts. The waterfall washed the pigment from his face and hair, but he was still so angry the water kept turning to steam off the palms of his hands. After he paddled the length of the pool a couple of times he began to calm down.
As he regained his composure, he was forced to acknowledge Max wasn’t the focus of his anger. An apology was owed to him, his fellow apprentices, and Quixoran as well.
Kira is a different story.
Troubled and confused, Jon sat on the big rock in the suns to dry out. Why am I so furious with her? She’d clearly been in the wrong and would admit as much sooner or later. He’d overreacted to her assault and should’ve just laughed it off — but he couldn’t. She slimed me, in front of everyone. I thought we were friends. A bitter sense of betrayal wedged itself alongside his other ill-defined feelings.
The sound of the waterfall masked Kira’s approach. Carrying a towel over one arm, she was clad in a bathing suit, sandals, and cover-up. Even though her legs were paint-spattered, she was a knockout. That ticked Jon off, too.
“I shouldn’t have thrown pigment spheres at you and I apologize,” she said, frost etched into every syllable.
She’s not sorry, Jon thought. Not one little bit.
“Forget it.” He retrieved his shirt and shoes. “Meet me in front of the vanyean tree in a few minutes, and I’ll take you home.” He disappeared with a sharp crack of thunder.
Max was in the bungalow when Jon materialized.
“I’m glad you’re here, Max. I had no right to lose my temper with you and I’m sorry.”
Max ignored his extended hand and stubbornly folded his arms across his chest. Undaunted, Jon kept his arm extended.
“Dude, I said I’m sorry. Don’t leave me hanging.”
“You admit you were a humorless idiot?”
“Yeah, my sense of humor was temporarily misplaced and I was totally out of line.”
Albeit grudgingly, Max shook Jon’s hand.
“Did you and Kira work things out?”
“I’m taking her home now.” Jon pulled a fresh pair of jeans and a shirt from his locker. “As soon as she leaves, things between us will be perfect.”
Max’s eyebrows lifted. “What?”
“Look, I tried to make nice with her and she threw it in my face — literally.”
“You’re upset that you have to break up with Brett. I get it. But you shouldn’t take it out on Kira.”
“I’m not!”
“You are too.”
“I’m not taking it out on her.”
“You sure about that?”
Jon stared at him for a few moments, another heated denial on the tip of his tongue. He dropped his gaze as he realized Max might have a point.
“Maybe not.”
****
Jon transported Kira to Castle Ytherium and escorted her upstairs. Outside her apartment, he cleared his throat. “Kira… I wasn’t very gracious when you apologized earlier. Max thinks I’ve been a jerk to you, and he’s probably right. Er, what I mean to say is, he is right. I’m a jerk and I’m sorry.”
She gave him an appraising look. “I used to think you were better than other boys, Jon Hansen. Now I realize you’re just the same.”
He winced. “That’s kind of harsh. You don’t understand what I’m going through.”
“And you have no idea what I’m going through. You’re not the only one with problems.”
“I didn’t know you were having problems,” he said, startled. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Her chin lifted. “Just leave me alone.”
She slammed the door in his face. Feeling like a skunk, he headed down the stairs. If Kira was having problems, why hadn’t she said anything to him? I’m a self-centered blockhead. I should’ve asked, and now it’s too late. On the other hand, he did have a lot going on. Did she expect him to read her mind? By the time he reached the ground floor, he was alternating between being angry with himself and angry with her. He finally settled on a general sense of frustration.
Vynn laughed as he drew near. Jon’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“Your expression is priceless, Wizard. Kira squashed you like a bug, didn’t she?”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re annoying?”
“Frequently, especially when I’m right.”
****
As Jon emerged from the castle, a scrawny kid with a twisted leg limped into his path.
“You’re Jon Hansen of the Dragon Clan, aren’t you?”
Although the kid wore a clan ring, Ophelia wasn’t sending up an alarm.
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“My name is Finn of the Owl Clan. I’ve been waiting outside the castle every day for a week, hoping you’d visit your intended, Kira Szul.”
“She’s not my intended.”
When the kid flinched, Jon regretted his words. Way to go, Mr. Sensitive. First you let Kira down, and then you bite the kid’s head off. He forced a smile to his lips.
“Look, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’ve had a rough day. What’s up?”
The kid gulped. “Um… I applied to the Certified Apprentice Program but the Executive Council rejected me because of my leg.”
“They’re a narrow-minded bunch, but I don’t think I can help. They don’t like me much.”
“Well, I was wondering if maybe I could talk to Master Quixoran about an apprenticeship with the Dragon Clan?”
“What about your father? Can’t he train you?”
“He’s dead,” Finn said. “Drained.”
The boy’s thin shoulders hunched as he fixed his gaze on the ground. Jon detected a slight sway in his stance.
“When was the last time you had a good meal, kid?”
Finn shrugged in response.
“Come on.” Jon took him by the arm. “I know where you can get something to eat. No promises on the apprenticeship, though.”
A relieved grin wreathed the boy’s drawn features. “Thanks.”
****
Jon introduced Finn to Quixoran, who immediately asked Cressidia to fix the boy a meal. While Finn and Quixoran talked, Jon went searching for Max. He found him in the bungalow.
“Hey, you want to go with me on a snack run?” Jon asked. “Sela and I have to go home tonight, so I thought it would be nice to have a little party beforehand… my treat.”
“Are you sure you want me to go with? A couple of hours ago you wanted to burn me to a crisp.”
“Let’s go.”
A few seconds later, Jon and Max transported into Jon’s living room. Mrs. Hansen emerged from the kitchen, startled.
“You’re back early. Hello, Max.”
“Hello, Mrs. Hansen.”
She glanced around. “Wait, haven’t you forgotten someone, Jon?”
“Sela and I are eating dinner with Grandfather tonight,” Jon replied. “Max and I are just going to the store to buy stuff for dessert. I have to get my wallet and car keys.”
Max trailed Jon as he loped up the stairs and into his room. While Jon checked his wallet for cash, Max examined the artwork decorating the walls and clipped to Jon’s drafting table.
“Mmm,” he said. “Is this your work?”
“Yeah.”
“I used to think you were a stupid, cocky kid, full of hot air.”
“And now?”
“You’re a stupid, cocky kid with real talent.” Max frowned. “I hate it when I’m partly wrong.”
“Er… thanks.”
Max and Jon tooled over to the local supermarket and loaded up a basket with junk food and stuff for s’mores. Max’s pupils practically dilated as he scanned the cookie aisle.
“The problem with living on Dragon Isle is too much healthy, unprocessed food,” he said.
“Not enough preservatives. No artificial coloring.”
Max sighed. “I really miss artificial flavors and hydrogenated oils.”
“Myself, I like a little guar gum filler now and again.”
By the time they reached the checkout stand, Jon and Max were laughing so hard the cashier got a case of the giggles too.
“It feels good to blow off some steam,” Jon said on the drive back to his house.
“Maybe you should swear off talking to girls until you can figure them out better.”
“That’s not a bad idea.”
****
The Dragon Isle stronghold had a proper party after dinner. Because Quixoran had agreed to take Finn as an apprentice, the boy was included in the festivities. Despite his small size, Finn wolfed down s’mores and junk food along with everyone else. Sela returned from Dragon Isle Village to join the fun. When she started to nod off, Jon transported her home.
When he finally walked into his room that night, his tuxedo was hanging from the closet door. His mother had brought the pants back with her when she left Dragon Isle, and had taken the suit to be cleaned. Although the party had lifted his mood, the sight of the tux brought him up short. Had it only been a week ago Brett Tanner’s father had attacked him? Jon shuddered as he glanced down at his open palm. The next time you try anything like that, Guinn, I’ll be ready for you.
His hand snapped shut into a fist.
****
Monday morning, Jon returned to school with sun-bleached hair, a tan, and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He held out a slender hope Guinn had told his daughter to steer clear of him. When he saw her before the first bell, however, Brett was bright and cheerful.
“My mom likes you. My dad does too. He said you were a keeper.”
Jon fought to maintain a neutral expression. “Did he? I kind of got the feeling he wasn’t that impressed.”
“No, just the opposite. In fact, he told me you were exceptionally polite and well mannered. See you later.” Brett sped off toward her homeroom.
Well, I did call him sir. Of course while I was on the floor writhing in agony I called him a few other choice names, but Guinn wouldn’t know that. A sharp pain drilled into Jon’s temples. How was he going to break up with the nicest, sweetest girl he’d ever known?
There must be some other way.
At noon, Brett ate with the Spring Fling committee while they held a wrap-up meeting. Casey wasn’t at lunch, so Fred and Jon took their trays out to the patio.
“I know Casey’s at school because I saw him earlier. He’ll miss lunch altogether if he doesn’t hurry,” Jon said.
“He’s hiding in the newspaper office.”
“Working a deadline?”
“Nah, he’s bummed out. I guess Kira told him she just wanted to be friends.”
Jon stared at Fred, stunned. “She never said a word to me about it. But then we’re sort of not… speaking anymore.”
Fred gaped. “Huh?”
“She spent the week on Dragon Isle. We got on each other’s nerves, big time.”
“Wow.” Fred let that sink in. “A week ago we had a posse and now it’s all split apart.” He crammed a handful of crispy French fries into his mouth.
A fresh pang of regret lanced Jon’s stomach and he lost his appetite.
“I told Casey that exercise helps get a girl out of a guy’s system faster. So he wants to hit the weight room with us,” Fred said.
“Does it really help?”
“Nah, but sore muscles give you something else to be miserable about.”
“I’ll corral him after school.”
After school let out, Jon headed to Casey’s office. The room was empty. He glanced at the clock, wondering if he should wait a few minutes or go straight to the gym. Just as he was leaving, Brett appeared.
“Hey. I saw you walking across the quad, and I figured you were coming here. I wanted to ask you something.”
Brett slipped her arms around his waist. Although Jon knew he should pull away, his arms tightened. Her hair smelled like baby powder, vanilla, and everything good and clean. As his eyes grew moist with emotion, he held Brett close and prayed for strength.
“Dad wants to know if you can come over to dinner Friday night,” she murmured.
Jon gasped without making a sound. Guinn was using his own daughter to toy with him. He could not have asked for more proof his relationship with Brett had to end. Do the right thing for her, no matter what it costs you.
He took a deep breath and pushed her away as gently as he could. “I can’t.”
She noticed his expression. “What’s wrong, Jon?”
“During spring break I went to Dragon Isle and I—” He paused, fighting the lump in his throat. “Kira was there. She and I… well, we’re going out now.”
In the ensuing leaden silence, Jon stared at a stain on the wall.
“That’s a very bad joke,” she said.
“It’s not a joke.” His voice was raspy.
“Tell me you’re lying.”
“I can’t do that.”
Her jaw dropped. “You creep.” The word echoed in the room as if she’d dropped a heavy textbook. “How could you do that to… to Casey. You know he’s got a crush on her. What kind of low-life are you to string people along? You make people think you care about them and then you stab them in the back? Just… stay away from me, Jon Hansen.”
Brett stormed out, passing Casey in the doorway without responding to his greeting. Bewildered, Casey entered his office and dropped a stack of colorful flyers onto his desk.
“What’s going on?”
Unable to speak, Jon sank into a chair. Casey peered at him, concern etched on his features. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Yeah, um…” Jon paused as he tried to focus. “Can you get me a cup of water or a soda?”
Relieved to be given a task, Casey darted from the room. Jon tried to pull himself together, but it was an uphill battle. At length, Casey returned with a cold can of citrus-flavored soda from the vending machine. Jon cracked the can open and took a long, bracing drink.
Fred barreled into the office. “So are we working out today?” He glanced at Jon. “What happened? You slam your finger in a locker or something?”
Casey shot Fred a quelling glance. Jon finally drained the soda, crumpled the can, and tossed it into the recycling box in the corner.
“I just broke things off with Brett.”
Casey and Fred both stared in shock.
“Dude!” Fred muttered.
“Doing the right thing bites sometimes.” Jon lurched to his feet. “Let’s work out.”