The Last Genie: A Novella

Chapter 26

The axe throwing bar was located in what appeared to be in old factory downtown. Near the entrance was a bar where you could order drinks and food and a few rows of tables. Past the tables where individual lanes with a wooden target at the ends separated by floor to ceiling metal barriers that looked like chain link fences.

"This is not what I expected," said Ithel.

"I know. It looks a little intense, but it's fun."

After renting a lane and being given three axes a piece, they ordered some burgers and beers and walked over to their lane.

"Do you want me to go first to show you how it's done?" asked Grace with a playful smile.

"Please."

Grace stepped up to the line, hauled back her axe, and with a mighty heavy buried her axe into the wood in the outer ring of the target causing Grace to let out a little cheer of joy. "Did you see that?"

"I did," said Ithel. "That's a good throw. Is it my turn now?"

"It is."

As Ithel stepped to the line, he casually tested the weight of the axe in his hand. Then, he one swift and apparent effortless motion he flung the axe out of his hand, and it whizzed like a bullet into the dead center of the bull's eye.

Grace and the other patrons stared at Ithel in abject wonder causing him to immediately regret his throw. Ithel wasn't trying to do something to make him stand out, but he had lots of experience of throwing axes and most of it was at moving targets with much higher stakes.

"Wow, you're really good," said Grace.

Ithel feeling the eyes on him said, "I think I just got lucky."

"I doubt that," said Grace. Then, she asked, "Can you give me some tips?" hoping to get a little hands-on training as she had seen in a slew of romantic comedies.

But, after quickly looking around the room, Ithel said quietly, "You moved too much. Take a smaller step and focus exactly on where you want your axe to go, and I don't just mean look at the target. Pick a specific point and focus everything you have just on that point."

"Ok, but what about my arm? Did I need to--"

"Don't worry about that. Just focus on the one spot you want the axe to go. Ignore everything else. Just focus on that spot and let it go."

"Alright," said Grace. Then, she stepped to the line and focused on a spot right next to where Ithel's axe landed, and after she felt really locked into that spot, she let her axe flew. And, much to her surprise, it landed exactly where she aiming.

She spun around with her eyes gleaming with joy and exclaimed, "That's my first bullseye."

Ithel said, "I'm surprised," which struck Grace as an odd thing to say.

To clarify, Ithel added, "Because you have good form. I would've thought you'd have hit the bullseye before."

"Thanks, I guess."

For some reason that Ithel couldn't explain, he felt a little reckless, so he said, "But my form is still better," as he threw his axe without even stepping up to the line directly between his and Grace's last axes, which Grace didn't even think was possible.

After staring in awe at Ithel's throw, Grace said playfully, "So, that's how it's going to be."

Ithel smiled and said, "It is."

"I think this means that I'm going to have to stop going easy on you."

"Let me see it."

"You will," said Grace as she hefted her next axe and stepped back to the line.

They played a few games as they ate dinner and had a few beers with Ithel winning everyone. He thought about letting Grace win one, but he sensed correctly that she would've known he let her win. And she wouldn't have liked that.

As they were leaving the bar, Grace asked, "Did you like it?"

"I did."

Grace smiled and said, "Good."

"But, I think next time, I need to get the southwest burger."

"Why?"

"You ate it so fast that it must be good."

At first Grace was embarrassed, but then she saw the sly smile on Ithel's face and a different kind of warmth spread over her body. And she said, "Shut up," as she slapped him slightly on the shoulder.

Ithel laughed, and Grace felt very, very happy. Then, she said, "It's still early. Do you want to do something else?"

"Like what?"

"We could go watch a movie?"

"I like movies."

"What should we watch?"

"What's playing?"

"I'll look," said Grace as she pulled out her phone.

They quickly settled on a romantic comedy that Grace wanted to watch primarily because Ithel was happy to go along with whatever Grace wanted.

When they got to the movie theater, Ithel bought their tickets and a large bucket of popcorn and drink for them to share, which made Grace very happy.

The movie was good, and as they left, Grace was happy and filled with hope that her and Ithel could end up like the couple in the movie. She just wished she had brought her sexier underwear.

When they got back to Claire's who luckily wasn't there, they decided to go to bed, and while Ithel was in the bathroom brushing his tooth, Grace dug through her clothes and chose the sexiest underwear she could find. She quickly changed into them and hopped into bed.

When Ithel came back into the room, Grace lay aquiver with anticipation under the covers. As Ithel came around to his side of the bed, Grace lifted up the covers revealing herself to him.

Ithel froze. She looked amazing. His body desperately wanted him to go to her, but he couldn't. He knew he couldn't, so he quickly said, "I think I left my wallet in my car."

"What?"

"My wallet," said Ithel. "I think I left it in my car," and rushed out of the room.

Grace was mortified. She was sure Ithel was into her. How could she have been so wrong? Then she thought, "Oh my god, he must've been turned off by my hideous body."

She quickly changed back into her normal pajamas while thinking, "How stupid can I be to think that someone that looks like me could end up with someone like him?"

Then, she collapsed into bed, pulled the covers up right up to her chin, and curled up into a tight ball facing away from the door and cried.

As soon as Ithel made it outside, he stopped. He felt like a fool. He knew that he had royally messed that up, and he knew that he should run back up there and explain why he couldn't be with her in that way. But, he couldn't make himself go. Partly, because he didn't know if he went back up there now he could stop himself from going for her, and partly because he was too embarrassed.

Disgusted with himself for being a moron and a coward, Ithel got into his car and drove off.

Grace had fallen asleep by time Ithel reenteredtheir bedroom, but she woke up when he took his pillow off the bed. She didn'tmove or open her eyes hoping that Ithel would think she was still asleep, butshe listened as Ithel lay down on the floor at the foot of her bed and keptlistening until his breathe fell into the steady rhythm of sleep.