A Boy, a Dog Girl and the Boy Who Had Everything: Part Two

“I do enjoy the black, but it makes me look a tad villainous. What do you think?”

“I think you look good in everything and I want to kick your ass.” Zack leaned back against the bench as Baltz strode out, looking at himself from all angles.

“Don’t be jealous,” Timbul scolded.

“You don’t lecture me. I have to interact with him because I’m friends with you. I was perfectly fine not thinking about him and Chista dating.”

“I wasn’t exactly asking to date her. I simply wanted A date,” Baltz said, stripping his coat off again and switching to blue.

“Whatever you want to do, I’m struggling hard with helping you. I mean, you do understand, right?”

“Of course I do. I’d never have asked had Jelks not encouraged me to have this moment with you.”

“Oh? This was the pirate’s idea?” Zack looked up at Baltz’s manservant, standing stiff and disciplined in the corner.

“Yes. Jelks wants me to mature. I think I am mature. But Chista…she did prove something to me. My judgement could be…impacted by bias.”

“Blue.”

Baltz raised his eyebrow, looking questioningly at Zack.

“Blue looks good on you. And it goes with Chista’s hair.”

“Thank you.” Baltz turned back to the mirror, reassessing the blue coat.

“See? We can all get along!” Timbul said, pulling Zack up and wrapping his arms around both boys shoulders. “The stuck up rich kid and the boy with the hero complex! Like an orb vid comedy!”

“Zack, please team up with me to lock him in a box,” Baltz growled. Zack couldn’t hold back his laugh.

*

“Alright, there are three conditions for me helping you to ask out my kinda maybe adoptive sister figure,” Zack said as he bit into the huge sandwich he had gotten out of Baltz. They sat in a semi-formal restaurant, their dance suits already flown to their homes by broom goblins, and Zack had ordered the biggest, spiciest, meatiest sandwich he could.

“Which are?”

“One, you apologize to Chista.” He held a finger up, then licked it upon seeing bright orange sauce on it.

“I already did apologize.”

“What, your weak ass bow? You suck at apologizing.”

“He kinda does,” Timbul agreed, his mouth full of sandwich. “Still waiting for my apology from first grade.”

“I bought you a better painting.”

“It was a hand made present for my mom and it wasn’t the point you paint spilling freak!”

“Two,” Zack said, pushing forward, “You will tell me exactly what you will do with her on the night of the dance. I don’t trust you not to be an idiot.”

“I’m not an idiot,” Baltz said defiantly.

“You’re also not likable.”

Baltz opened his mouth to object. Timbul touched his shoulder, shaking his head.

“Third, you promise me, right now, this isn’t about making you feel better. You want this because you want to make Chista happy.”

Baltz sat still for a while after Zack said those words. His sandwich was mostly untouched. Jelks sat next to him, his one eye looking at the boy with something close to sympathy.

“I don’t know how to answer. I still think Chista spent too long chasing a dream which won’t come true. Even her performance with the tree, while impressive, wasn’t beyond a C rank wizard. But still…”

“Still what?”

“If someone can do the impossible, I think it is her. I want to be there when…if…” For once, Baltz Maridan didn’t have the correct words. “I want to see if she can grow. And if possible…I want to be a part of it.”

Zack finished his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully. “I’ll see what I can do. No promises, but…I know how hard this was for you. And I’m not enjoying your discomfort as much as I thought I would.”

“I…appreciate it?” Baltz said. Timbul cracked up, Zack following closely behind. As they laughed, Baltz broke a rare, genuine smile. Even hard faced Jelks revealed a small, thin smile as the boys at the table laughed.

*

“What’s this?” Zack asked. He had moments ago been dropped off at the Phoenix dorm and Jelks had walked him to the front door. Before leaving he had handed Zack a small stone totem, an odd faced little humanoid figure with his right arm raised.

“I used to work in the military before joining the staff of the Maridan family. This little guy was a good luck charm. It kept me out of a lot of trouble.”

“You have this when you lost your eye?”

Jelks let his small smile show again.

“If not for this, I’d have been dead instead of blind.”

“So why give it to me and not Richie Rich?” Zack gestured towards the car.

“You need it more. You remind me of me at your age. Baltz is more cautious. You’ll do something stupid to help your friends.”

“I will indeed. Speaking of, I have to go talk to Chista now.” Zack shuddered, looking at the lit up third floor windows. He turned the charm around in his hands. “I’ll definitely remember this, Jelks.”

“Good. Sleep well, kid. And thanks.”

Jelks walked away. Zack studied the man as he left, the entire night running through his mind as he planned.

“A good luck charm, huh?”

Zack stuck the little carved figure into his pocket. Then he steeled his nerves, made the sign of the cross over his body, and opened the door to the lobby.

*

“YOU WANT ME TO GO OUT WITH WHO?!”

Isadora and Helline were returning from a long day at the potion shop. They had been run ragged handing out healing potions to combat the extra strength wizard flu which had been running rampant throughout the city, hoping for some rest.

“I DON’T CARE IF IT’S ONLY FOR THE DANCE! GIVE ME ONE GOOD REASON!”

“No rest shall be had here tonight…” Isadora said wearily.

“Drinking?”

“Drinking.”

The two turned and walked towards the nearest bar, at least hoping to pass out quietly.