Putz12 Plus One

FOUR | GO TO THE GLOW

He expected daylight to burn his eyes. Or the creature to pounce on him in the middle of the night, begging for a snack. But as he awakened things looked just as they did before with the dog-like creature patiently waiting on a desk next to him. He yawned, rubbing his eyes. "There's no way it's still night time." He thought, looking for any signs of sun. "I never wake up more than once every night, and my back aches like I've overslept if anything."

He got up from the bed and made his way up the ladder. Looking around there were even more spheres of light on the wall. It looked fixed in a circle. Iza wasn't in her bed, no. She was speaking just loud enough to be overheard. He couldn't help but lean in and listen:

"Starlights shatter amongst a thousand pieces of her heart.

A wind, a wave, should the stars align before they collide?

My soul is wary and fretful. Through the silence she invites them.

Strangling a chance at connection.

May glows guide me and bring me peace. I miss her, my sister."

"Oh, Cod. A wannabe poet, how cheesy." He thought, almost losing balance of the ladder. "Squit!"

She turned to see him and her face turned pink. "H, how much of that did you hear?!"

"Lady, I'm about to fall and all you care about is me hearing your cringey poetry? Help me up for Christ's sake!" But before any further doubt was raised, she lifted her hand and smiled. Not an ounce of struggle as she lifted him up. No thank you from him, either.

"You can just call me Iza. Not 'Lady.'"

"Eh, I don't wanna get too personal."

She rolled her eyes and turned around. She was always doing that. Hiding away from someone when she disapproved of their actions.

"You know, when you turn around I can stare at your ass."

Livid, she faced him and crossed her arms. "What is wrong with you?! Do you think before you speak?! Or does it just come out?!"

"Hey, no filter, baby."

"I swear to Cod!" Huffing as she pulled away she took her jacket off.

"It's a bit too early for that, don't chya think?" He teased.

Oh how she wanted to drop kick him. Around her waist she placed the jacket and tied it firmly. "There." She smiled. "Now nobody gets to stare at my ass."

"Yeah, well, there's not much else you're good for if you ask me."

"I'm sorry?"

"Did I stutter?! Stupid inkling girl." He laughed, as if he proved a point. He expected a push or shove, yet she grew from offended to curious.

"Inkling?"

"Oh, c'mon, you go went to school didn't you?" He mocked. "Inkling! Y'know, your species!" He chuckled so hard his face turned red. Did she always have to be the punchline of his jokes?

"I'm not an inkling."

Laughter stopped and so did his smile.

"Really, I'm not."

Wait. This squid, er, not-inkling girl was serious. He started to learn her smug looks and rolled eyes to get the idea she wasn't exactly joking. "So you've never seen a rainmaker, and don't know what an inkling is?"

She nodded. "I do... I think. You are one... right? And, you don't like us?"

He furrowed his brows and took a good look at her before speaking again. "Well, I am an inkling, yeah. And what do you mean by 'us?'"