The Zodiac Collector

“You sure you’re okay?” Mary frets over me as we head to the jousting arena, walking elbow to elbow with me.

If there’s anything I hate, it’s someone hovering in my personal space during and after an asthma attack. As if I can claim all the air around me as my own. There’s plenty for everyone. “Yes, I’m fine.” I take a deep breath to prove it. My lungs seize a tiny bit, but I keep a smile plastered on my face, trying not to let it show.

“That lady was weird.” She gives me a little space by putting a couple feet between us.

“Beyond weird.” I shake the bottle of glitter, daintily labeled “Stardust.” White wax seals the cork. I’m tempted to sprinkle it on a candle or an offering during my next chant, even though stuff like this is totally fake. A real witch wouldn’t sell her magicks. She’d keep them secret. Unless it’s a front. But then that would still make the dust a sham.

A flutter of stubborn belief tickles my stomach. Doesn’t hurt to try it, right? Mary won’t have to know. I’ll wait until she’s sleeping.

“Hmmph.” She puts another foot between us. It’s as if the distance marks the extent of her disbelief.

“Come on. It’s not like it’ll spontaneously cause the earth to tilt off its axis and dive into the sun.”

“Oh, so that’s fake, but your Zodiac magick is real? You can’t have it both ways.”

The smells of dirt, warm grass, and leather mingle together. Chatter from early faire actors and vendors caresses me. I soak it all in, filing away each sensation like a camel hoarding water. The faire only runs for two weeks, then I have to wait another fifty for it to return. This year is even worse because of the SAT. Bittersweet longing tarnishes my fragile happiness. One of these years, I’m going to enjoy the faire and just do what I want to do. No heavy dresses to wear in the hot sun, no marketing of Mom’s business, no exam to study for, and no ruined birthdays.

William is at the stable behind the arena. He’s shoveling wood shavings into a wheelbarrow. Lord have mercy, he’s not wearing a shirt. His skin is darkened from the sun. Sweat slicks his chest, back, and arms. His hair is soaked at the edges. And, oh man, his jeans hang low on his lean hips. He’s all muscle.

My tummy does the squee tingle—the funny nausea, swirly-gig thing that happens when an elevator comes to a stop and you’re weightless for a nanosecond. Except this is a million times stronger.

He stabs his shovel in the pile of shavings and turns to us. “Hi.” His dimples flash and I want to melt right there.

“Whatcha doin’?” I dig my toe in the dirt and smile, but stop short of twirling my hair around a finger.

He snatches a navy-blue kerchief from his back pocket and wipes his face. “Getting the stalls ready. Shequan’s dad is bringing the horses today.”

“Awesome.” I try not to stare at his ripped abdomen. Jousting is one of my favorite parts of the faire. Horses are gorgeous animals, and the excitement of the knights charging full-tilt at one another jazzes me up every time. I keep telling myself I’m going to start riding lessons and join the knights. I don’t know if they’d “allow” a girl in the band, but whatever, I suck at taking “no” for an answer. A vision of me knocking the Red Knight off his chestnut stallion with a lance and the crowd bursting into cheers briefly takes over. It would be so cool.

“Dude, hurry up, we still have four stalls to fill.” Evan jogs up to us. He waves at me and grins at Mary. “Hey.”

Mary giggles. She does twirl her hair. “Evan. I didn’t know you were here.”

“Yeah. This guy bribed me into it.” He tilts his head at William. His gray shirt has deep sweat stains around the neck, pits, and back.

Evan grabs the wheelbarrow handles and spins it toward the barn entrance. “Right. That’s what I said.”

William shakes his head. “Nah, if I split my money any more, I won’t be left with anything.”

His mouth twitches with amusement. It’s the same look any boy gives a girl when they know the girl is totally into them. A flash of heat burns my cheeks and his grin widens. I’m like a slice of toast that’s fallen butter-side down—a complete and total loss. “Okay, well, do you want to put some hay in each of the stalls? There’s a rack. Just put a flake in each one.”

Is it a pity chore, something to make me think he’s not rejecting me? I huff, following him to the stack of hay just inside the barn. At least he’s not taking full advantage and making me do all his chores. A lock of hair drops into his face as he bends to cut the double set of twine wound around a bale.

He pulls at the edges with his long fingers, sectioning the bale. “See? The flakes separate on their own. Super easy.”

Evan walks by with an empty wheelbarrow. “Need a refill,” he says, his gaze lingering on Mary more than anyone else.

“Cool.” William follows him outside. He pauses just beyond the threshold and peers back at us. His gaze locks onto mine and the heat in my cheeks intensifies.

Mary watches until they’re out of sight, then sighs. “Thanks for volunteering us.”

“It won’t take long. Besides, you can earn points with Evan for being here to pitch in.”

“Is that why you offered to help? To ‘earn points’ with William? You don’t need to do that, you know. He already likes you.” She pulls her hair into a low ponytail and then grabs two flakes. Bits of loose hay shake off to the floor as she walks to the first set of stalls.

“We’re just friends.” It’s a good thing her back is turned to me. Even I can’t pull off the lie to myself, let alone someone else.

“Yeah, right. And I’m the High Queen.” She circles around for another load of flakes.

We fall into silence. There’s twelve stalls and it only takes us a few minutes to distribute the hay.

The guys have one stall left to prepare by the time we’re done. Mary and I linger while William fills the barrow with shavings.

Evan sidles up to Mary. He leans against the barn, super casual. “I had fun last night.”

“Totally.” She yanks the elastic from her hair and shakes out her curls. Definite mating behavior.

She twists her mouth in thought. “It’s kind of lame, but do you want to study for the SAT together?”

He angles his body toward her and I want to cheer like Marcy Stucky did after her quarterback boyfriend scored a touchdown during overtime at the All Stars game. The girl nearly peed her pants, and several people around her had to clamp their hands over their ears. “No, it’s not lame. How about tomorrow afternoon?”

“Okay.” Mary gives him a time and location and seals my fate as the third wheel.

I angle away from them and toward William. He’s almost finished filling the wheelbarrow.

When we get to the last stall on the right, he says, “They’re getting along.”

William nods, driving the wheelbarrow into the stall and lifting the handles to tip it forward. “He’s had a crush on Mary the entire year.”

“You’re kidding!” She’s had a crush on him, too, but I keep that to myself.

“Yeah.” He walks backward, shaking the wheelbarrow along the way to distribute the shavings.

I grab a rake and spread them out some more. “I’m glad they’re finally talking, then. Although I may have lost my studying partner.” Without Mary prodding me along, I might not be able to focus enough on studying for the exam.

He drives the barrow out of the stall and gestures for me to give him the rake. “We could study together.”

I dig my nails into the stall door as I shut it. Hanging out with William would make studying less like torture. On the other hand, it’d also be harder to concentrate. But, heck, I’m willing to risk it. “I’d like that.”

Dad’s smithy shop is kitty-corner to the arena. Its vertical clapboard siding is painted black. Above the entrance is a wooden sign. Its iron lettering reads: Devans’s Forgeries.

“One horse already threw a shoe. She balked at the trailer and hit her foot just right on the edge. Bent the metal.” Marcus is dressed in a white T-shirt, jeans, and boots. Over six feet tall, he towers over everybody. He yanks a misshapen horseshoe out of his pocket and shows it to Dad.

“No problem. I’ll come fix it right now, if you like.” Dad’s leaning against the counter that runs parallel to the far wall of his shop. A couple beer cans are at his elbow. As usual, his clothes are stained with soot and dirt. He wears a thick leather apron when he works, but it doesn’t seem to keep him clean.

“That’d be great. Thanks, Dan.” Marcus claps Shequan’s shoulder. “Ready?”

Shequan lifts the front of his orange button-down shirt to stuff his hands in his jeans pockets. “Bet the horses are ready to get off the trailer.”

Shequan is one of the few students giving Mary competition in the grades department. Evan is the other. William and I, well, we’re happy to be second-string as long as we’re doing well enough to keep our parents happy and to score into a good college.

Mary and I groan in unison. Mary doesn’t have problems acing exams, but they rev her nerves and she hates the feeling, hence her uber-study schedules.

“Yeah, if the test was later, we’d be able to enjoy it more.” I should work on a spell that could alter time. It’d be so awesome to create a portal to another dimension so I had time to study and do boring stuff, but could spend as much time as I wanted here, at the faire, or with William. I’d have to check the Zodiac spellbook for a time-weaving spell.

“Right?” He scratches the back of his head. “History is going to kill me.”

“Coming to see the horses, girls?” Dad carries his farrier tools in an open wooden box with a handle.

“I’ll meet you at the barn. Gotta bring the truck around. It has the anvil and forge in the back.” He heads outside with Marcus.

Shequan leads the way to the horse trailer, chatting about how much it sucks to memorize dates and people and events that’ll have no impact on his future. I can’t say I disagree, but memorizing is easier than finding your way through a math problem, in my humble opinion. With my warped sense of mathematical direction, I take the wrong turn at Albuquerque every time and end up somewhere in the Netherlands rather than Santa Fe.

The size of a semi truck, Marcus’s livestock trailer carries up to fifteen horses. Sunlight reflects off the shiny metal like a lens flare. I hold a hand over my brow, creating some shade for my eyes.

Dad is already there, firing up his forge. Marcus drags the anvil off the truck bed and drops it nearby. Shequan unlocks the trailer door and extends the ramp so the horses don’t have to hop. The scent of tangy horse sweat and manure oozes out.

I peek into the windows, catching glimpses of velvety noses and watery eyes. One pale horse flares its nostrils and snorts. A moment later, her face disappears. I bet it’s the one who threw a shoe.

A steady stomp rocks the trailer and Shequan appears with the buckskin mare in tow. She has a white blaze down her nose and stocking feet. Her white mane is super long, almost reaching her chest.

The poor thing rushes down the ramp and spins around Shequan. He holds fast to the lead while reaching up to pat her neck. “Easy, girl.”

Marcus helps Shequan attach the lead to a fence post. “Grab some hay. It might distract her.”

Shequan jogs to the barn and appears a moment later with a flake. The mare’s ears perk up, locking onto him. She paws at the ground.

Dad’s able to approach her and pick up her right front foot without too much protest. He examines her hoof and files it a bit. “This’ll be no problem to nail back on.”

“Good.” Marcus pats the mare’s hind end. “This is her first joust. Should be interesting.”

Her tail flicks at the flies and she chews in a steady rhythm, pulverizing the hay strand by strand, previous anxiety forgotten.

“She’s beautiful.” I run my fingers along her smooth neck and fiddle with her mane.

“You should come to the stable sometime. Take her for a spin.” Marcus grins.

“That’d be great…if I knew how to ride.” I scratch under her chin and she extends her neck, closing her eyes with contentment.

Dad heats the horseshoe in the forge and pounds it into shape. Fixing the mare’s hoof between his legs, he sets to nailing the thing on. “Girls, how about I pay for some riding lessons with Marcus? It’ll be an early birthday present.”

“Really?” I bounce like a five year old getting a megaton of her favorite candy.

“What’re you guys doing for your birthday?” Shequan runs his fingers through the mare’s mane, loosening the tangles.

He scrunches his face like he’s working out an algebra problem in his head. “Let’s see. Your birthday is in late June… That makes you guys Gemini, right?”

He shrugs. “A little. I play this Zodiac-based RPG and the characters traits are based on their sign and constellations. Each sign has its own power—water, air, fire, earth—and Pet System. Like the Gemini are pretty good warriors. They use windstorms, and their Pet System is a horse.” He pats the mare’s neck.

“I stick with Aries. It’s a cardinal fire sign. I get lots of extras with that one.”

Mary, who’s been quiet so far, nudges closer. “Anne’s an expert on the Zodiac. Once you get her started on it, she can’t shut up. Seriously, she can tell you any fact you’d never want to know.”

“I’m just saying.” She tips her head so her hair hides her face from Shequan’s view and gives me a what-the-triple-heck-are-you-doing look.

“Bet I can out-talk you.” He gives the mare more hay and adjusts the noseband of her halter.

I open my mouth to lob a comeback and Mary gives me another look. The snark dies on my lips and coats them like sticky gloss. Geez, one flirt fest with Evan has given some sort of super power—Confidence Girl with the power to steal retorts and fizzle arguments with one stare.

For once, I let Mary cart me off. Though I’ll admit, I’m so curious to ask her why she freaked about Zodiac chat, getting her one on one will give me an opportunity. I wave ’bye to Shequan. “So…I guess we’ll see you around the faire.”

“Sure.” He unties the mare, who’s now sporting a fourth shoe, and walks her toward the stable.

“Meet you girls at the shoppe?” Dad snuffs the fire in his forge and helps Marcus lift the anvil into the truck bed.

“I don’t want you wrangling him into this.” She twists her arms and wiggles her fingers.

“You know what I mean.” She tucks her hands into the rear pockets of her jeans.

“Actually, I don’t. What makes you think I’m going to ask Shequan to chant with me?”

I make a beeline for her and bump shoulders. “Hey, if I knew so much about the Zodiac, I’d be able to make a chant work. I’m not going to drag anyone else into this, I promise.”

She nods, sucking on her bottom lip. “Good. It’s best if you leave this stuff alone.”

She slows. “I don’t know. But I don’t want to try again to find out, either. We pinky swore, remember?”

“I’m not saying we should chant again.” I leave off right away. Guess I’d have to practice on my own for a while. It’d make spell casting harder. Like Gamma said, we needed to work together for full power.

I have to take a break from studying. It’s Sunday night, after all. Lots more studying is lined up for tomorrow. I need my strength and I find it in surfing the Internet.

“I thought you were studying.” Mary lies on her stomach, her upper body propped up on a pillow. Her knees are bent and her lower legs are crossed, sticking up in the air. Her history textbook is open in front of her. She must memorize the pages somehow. I have no other way of explaining how easy straight A’s come for her.

“I am.” I log on and scroll over my favorite website. New pics from the Magicks page take up most of it. Some are funny, some are inspirational, and some are simply pictures of misty woods and mythical creatures.

An instant message tab pops up in the bottom right corner. It’s William. My heart digs its heels into my rib cage and makes a leap up my chest.

I almost squeal. My fingers hover over the keys, humming with eager glee. I want to snap back a “yes” immediately, but don’t want to look desperate like I had at the stable, so I make myself wait. One-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand… I clench my fists and sit on them until I hit thirty. Then I type: Where should we meet?

I power down the laptop, my mind whirring. “William wants to meet me in the park.”

“To look at the stars.” I skip to my closet, hyped on girly giddiness, and yank a light-blue hoodie from its hanger. The days are warm, but the nights cool down. Maybe I should bring some hot chocolate.

“How romantic,” Mary croons, flopping onto her back and resting a hand on her forehead in a fake faint.

“Yep.” I lace up my sneakers and give Castor a jovial scratch behind the ears. “See you later.”

She rolls her eyes, but her smile says she’s happy for me. “Don’t stay out too late.”

I clutch the Thermos to my chest and savor the weight of my backpack against my spine. My heart is pounding between my lungs like a magic jumping bean. William and I hang out all the time, but this is different. A nighttime rendezvous, alone, to look at the stars. Like Mary said, it’s romantic. My lips feel dry. I lick them, thankful that the minty sting of my toothpaste still coats my tongue.

I find William in the middle of the park, near the water fountain like he’d said. It’s not running, so the night is quiet—except for the chirping of crickets. I wonder what they’re saying to each other.

“Hi, Anne.” William greets me with his signature dimple-laden smile. He’s got the telescope set up already. A lantern sits next to it, casting a ring of somber yellow light around him. It edges along the fountain’s wall and to the grass on the opposite side.

I wave. Lame. “I brought some hot chocolate.” I pause. “But I only have the lid for a cup.”

Right. No big deal. Two friends sharing a cup. We do it all the time. “Cool.”

He dips his head to the telescope and points it west. “I found Libra. Wanna see?”

“Sure.” William’s birthday is in October, making him a Libra. True to his sign, he’s laid-back, levelheaded, diplomatic, and just. He always finds a way to get people to compromise and get along. On the flip side, he can’t make a decision to save his life. I peek in the viewfinder and stare at the mass of white dots speckling the black sky. If I trace a line between the stars in the constellation, it looks like a lopsided house drawn by a five-year-old.

“Wouldn’t it be cool to travel to other galaxies, visit other planets, and feel the heat of different suns?” There’s awe in his voice. It carries wonder and adventure. The shockwave of it blasts me, inspiring me to dream.

“We could visit the stars of our Zodiac signs. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Librae.” I step away from the telescope and point to each star in the constellation. “Then Castor and Pollux.” I have nowhere to point because they’re not visible from our location.

We laugh. He stares at me so intently I squirm like a butterfly under a microscope. Heat rushes to my cheeks and anxiety pools in my belly.

Right there, without warning, my heart melts. The lack of blood flowing through my body creates a sharp ringing in my ears. I press a shaky finger to my temple as if it’ll stop my brain from exploding. He’d commented about how Mom’s dress brought out the color of my eyes, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about looking pretty.

“Are you okay?” He drapes his hands on my shoulders. So gentle. His touch shatters me.

“Y-yeah.” I lie. I mean, I’m not complaining about him being so close to me that I can smell his soap or feel the heat of his breath on my cheeks. It’s one hundred percent, completely what I want. Which is what makes me not okay. We’re best friends. Have been since we were in diapers. This is new territory and I don’t know how to act.

I slip my backpack off as soon as I reach the top of the porch stairs. Slinking to the far corner, past Dad’s rusty bench, I drop to my knees and steady my breathing. Mary would flip out if she knew what I’m about to do.

Huddling in the dark like a robber planning a break-in, I unzip my backpack and draw out a candle and book of matches. It takes three tries to get the wick to light. I scrape the wax off the stardust bottle’s top with my thumbnail. The cork sticks and I have to wiggle it back and forth. It comes free with a soft thunk.

My stomach tumbles like an Olympic gymnast. I still haven’t had a chance to practice spells with Gamma and the last one was a mess. This would probably go better with Mary, but she doesn’t want any part of it. I take a deep breath and begin.

“Four elements of the Zodiac,

Earth, fire, water, air.

Gemini twins,

Castor and Pollux.

Hear my plea.

Help me figure out

How to make William and me be!”

With a flick of my wrist, a flurry of glitter rains down. It sizzles on contact with the melted wax and the candle almost goes out. Then the sizzling grows louder and the fire brightens, at first to a pale yellow, then a bright white.

I expect it to die down, but it doesn’t. Instead, the light keeps getting more dazzling, more blinding, more… star-like.

I lean back, squinting. This isn’t normal. I gulp. The old woman, Zeena, couldn’t really have given us real stardust. She couldn’t be a real witch. A kooky chuckle gurgles up my chest and past my lips.

The candle starts wobbling all by itself. There’s no wind, no earthquake, no reason whatsoever for the thing to move on its own. Except for magick.

“Holy Castor and Pollux,” I blurt. Had I listened to Mary and tossed the stuff away, I wouldn’t be here, crouching on my front porch, caught in a spell beyond my control.