Malediction

19 - The Possibilities

I let out an exasperated sigh, shifting my left hand trapped inside my brace. My joint was hurting, painkillers worn off. I fought the urge to rip the thick fabric from my hand and toss it out of the window, act like I was fine, like it didn't hurt. As I pictured doing so, I felt a set of eyes on the side of my face, burning.

"What?" I caved, glancing toward Danny

"You know what" His head kept straight

"It was the stool I was standing on, a genuine malfunction"

"So you normally have this kind of bad luck?" He enquired

"I'm not getting into this with you Danny" I scoffed, arguing becoming our only way of communication

He adjusted in his chair, one arm hanging casually on the steering wheel, the other leaned on the window "Earlier today, in Math, you made it known to your friend that we talk, how did she react to that?"

I was impressed by his notice of detail "Skyler was surprisingly fine about it, as was Cara"

"Surprisingly? You were expecting them to be upset with you for talking to me?"

"The fact you asked how she reacted in the first place says you know that's how they could have reacted" I rolled my eyes "but they didn't, they were very understanding and accepting of it"

He made a small hmph noise, unconvinced  "You're being very open about this"

"Is that a bad thing?" I quirked and eyebrow

He tilted his head "If it doesn't go to plan and we can't figure this thing out, then everything you are doing is a waste of time"

"It's not though, it isn't a waste, not if you get answers, at least then you know you did what you could, besides, there has to be some way to end this" I positively tried

He was again, lightly shaking his head "You're too optimistic"

"And you're too pessimistic" I shot "Do you not have hope?"

"Of course I do, but we also have to be realistic, the woman who created this curse could very well be dead"

I hadn't considered that, and my heart squeezed, my chest tightening.

"What's the first thing you would do when it's broken?" I turned where I sat, staring at him curiously "The very first thing"

He glanced toward me, his eyes lingering longer than they probably should have as he shrugged. I could see him thinking about it, his bottom lip sucked in, his teeth chewing. I wondered what was running through his mind, what kinds of things he had always wanted to do but never could.
He had probably never spoken to another girl apart from me, he probably hadn't even touched someone or experienced a first kiss. But that wasn't even all of it, he didn't have any friends, not even male companions. Once this was over, he could do every single thing that a normal eighteen year old could do, and so could his family.
Andy could approach Harriet Bloom, he would be nervous, but it would be in the way a boy should have been nervous about talking to a pretty girl.
I wondered if his mother Selena would ever remarry. Would she find someone she could finally love without fear to experience the fullness of love? And Blake, Blake would be capable of wooing any woman he wanted. I had seen him around town, and he was just as lucky in the gene department as his nephew was. The possibilities were endless, and the mere thought of the happiness it would bring was enough to have my nerves calmed.
I was ready to end this, for them.

"You know what, don't tell me" I told Danny, who was still deep in thought "I'd rather wait and see it for myself"

Again, his eyes turned towards me, briefly meeting my stare, tempting to lock in. This time I was the one to pull away, looking out the window at the growing tired sun.