Merlin's Curse

CHAPTER 15: Fearless Fluff

I watch G ask a tall girl in a pale blue dress to dance. He has no fear. She's at least a foot taller than him and doesn't seem to mind. She activates her DanceX strap with her thumb and then touches her band against his; they both light up for a second.

And the media screen attached to the raised platform shows the XP score for Gauntlet go up by another 10 XP. The scores for all three squads are steadily increasing as PCs pair up with Whitman students. Within a matter of seconds, the dance floor is lit with glowing, fire and ice couples. I look up and the same scene is unfolding around the balcony where I spot Randall with another boy.

Freak'n Merlin's beard!

The Great Hall thins out a little as some kids use the change of pace to get a drink or take a break. Almost everyone is wearing their DanceX band. I see mostly blue or pink stripes. But there are a lot of rainbow stripes, too. G has one of them. But I don't see anyone with the white stripe and little black question marks.

Just me. Of course.

I miss the exchange, but Zahir and Luke are both dancing now, too. And, not surprisingly, Luke is with a girl that looks like a future supermodel. Across the way I spot Jupiter. She has her arms around a girl with spiky blue hair.

I don't understand. How did everyone find a partner so fast? I'm about to sit on the edge of the fountain when an elbow jabs me in the side. 

"Merlin," Isa says. Her arms drape around the neck of a boy in a blue, tie dye blazer. "Go find someone to dance." And I realize I'm the only person on the floor without a partner.

Slow dances ruin everything!

I pretend to see someone and walk away. My dry lips lead me toward the drink station. On the way, I notice a number of boys and girls hiding in the shadows. The alone kind of hiding. But I'm too embarrassed to join them. Even though that's exactly where I want to be. Alone. At least until this horrid slow song is over.

"Merlin—well, don't you look snazzy," Professor Atlas says. And I immediately regret coming to get a drink. "Yellow is your color."

"Um, thanks." I grab a can of sprite.

"Hey, I've been meaning to talk with you."

"Why?"

"I saw the BrainTech Hack teams have been selected."

"Yes. But I'm not—"

"I know—that's why we need to talk."

"Now, at the dance?" I open the can and take a swig.

He smiles. "Why waste an opportunity? Unless, of course, there's a pretty girl out there you have your eye on."

I choke on my sprite—bubbles sting my nostrils. "What? Oh, no. Now is ok," I say, trying to keep a straight face. The burning fizz makes my eyes water.

"Great. I'd like to train you as a backup."

"Backup?"

"In case someone from Gauntlet drops out." He tilts his head with a shrug. "Strange things happen." 

The slow song ends, and my legs bounce in anticipation. But another goopy love song starts, and I want to poke my eyeballs out. 

Because I'm cursed. 

Professor Atlas continues, "As Gauntlet's faculty advisor, I've talked to Jupiter, and she's ok with the idea. So what do you think?"

"But why me? I'm failing Cyber Security."

"Because I believe in you." After a pause, he adds, "Just think about it." Then he gently pushes me away with a cheesy grin and says, "Now get out there and ask some girl to dance."

"Right," I say, setting my drink down and walking away. 

When I spot my friends, G is already with a different girl. Who is this kid? If I'm a denuded dandelion swaying in the wind, G's the fluffy fuzzy stuff the breeze carries away. But he's fearless fluff. And he seems happy to go where the wind takes him.

I look at my danceX band. "Shut up, stupid question marks."

"Stupid and mute," a voice responds. When I look up, a blue fairy princess with glowing wings is standing in front of me. She has caramel skin and wind-blown hair, like she just flew in. "Sorry, I heard and couldn't help myself."

"Your d-dress, um...wow!"

"I know. It's a lot, but so me." Layers of sheer fabric in multiple hues of blue lift off the floor and float around her as she twirls, making the embroidered butterflies take flight. Her gown is mystical and perfect. Delicate butterflies rest on her shoulder straps where sheer fabric drapes around her bare arms like puffy clouds.

"No, I mean, your dress is amazing." I smile at her and maybe at the hint of lavender kissing the tips of her wings. She's prettier than a sea butterfly. "I'm Merlin."

She laughs and covers her mouth. "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at your name. Um...well, maybe I am a little. I mean, your name is great. It's just that..."

"It's ok," I say. "I get it." My ears are bright red, made worse by the LED lights outlining my jacket. Such a stupid idea—this dance. As I walk away, she grabs my arm.

"No, you don't understand..." She stumbles over her words and presses her hand to her head. After a nervous chuckle, she continues, "It's your name and mine...ugh, alright, I'm just going to say it. My name is Gwendolyn."

"Gwendolyn?"

"Yes," she chuckles. "And super ironic because my name means white and fair." She holds out her caramel skin with a snorty laugh. "Which clearly, I'm not."

"Gwendolyn also means blessed," I say. And I'm smiling again because I understand.

She is too, and a dimple pinches her cheek. "I laughed at your name, our names," she clarifies, "because some legends say that Gwendolyn was—"

"The wife of Merlin, I know." And then we both laugh, the raw and honest kind that rumbles from deep down. I hold up my DanceX band and say, "Too bad there isn't a Blue Fairy option. But maybe you'll dance with me anyway?"

"Yes...yes!" She activates her band and presses it against mine. I'm out of breath and wonder if I'm dreaming. We stand in front of each other, our chests nearly touching. And she's a girl. An actual girl. Not Isa swearing at me. Not Jupiter yelling at me. Not my mom punishing me. Just a pretty girl.

A blue butterfly girl.

"I should warn you," I say with a smirk. "I'm shockingly good."

Gwendolyn laughs and squints suspiciously at me. Then she reaches her arms up around my neck, and a whitish-blue spark zaps her. She gasps and pulls back before a smile creeps across her face.

"Oh, that's good," she says, shaking her head. "Merlin with magic." She wraps her arms around me. Her long, dark hair smells like spring, and shivers ripple down my spine as our bodies touch. And then the—ok—love song ends. 

Because I'm cursed.

A/N: ONC 2023 word count milestone (20,000) reached. Total word count: 20,611.