Try Again

Part 1: Control

     My nausea started to abate the moment I left the church. The humans leaving with me took deep lungfuls of air. Understandable, considering the stuffy interior. I stretched, feeling the tension evaporate from my back, and rubbed the bare nape of my neck. The curly bun was starting to unravel, releasing little tendrils of hair to tickle my skin. I slid my hands into gloves to hide the burns on my fingertips and set off towards home.

     I'd barely gone five steps when a familiar voice assaulted me. "Maricela, what a coincidence running into you. I've actually been wanting to speak with you."

     I rolled my eyes and pasted a smile on my face. "Didn't expect to see you here, Devin."

     "Well, you know, just walking by." I knew it was anything but a coincidence. He'd been trying to get ahold of me for the past week, but I wasn't in the mood. "You know the next payment on your apartment is due in a couple days, right?"

     And there it is. Keeping the smile going was getting harder. "I do. Don't worry, I'll have the money."

     "Make sure you do. Don't want you getting behind again."

     I resisted the urge to roll my eyes again. "Of course. See you soon." I strode away as fast as I could without appearing like I was running. When I'd gone a block I glanced back. Devin wasn't in sight. I sighed. "That was close." Some humans gave me weird looks. I kept walking.

     The flights of stairs to my apartment—four flights—radiated heat through my shoes. I smiled and resisted the temptation to take them off. It might cause some problems. I lingered instead. Then I was quick-stepping down the hall towards my door. The floor was comparatively freezing. My door burst open before I could knock. Felicity took one look at me and her eyes widened. She glanced wildly down the hall. "Jesus, Maria. Your—" She gestured at my head and I understood.

     "Ack, sorry." I ducked in and she locked the door behind me.

     "Don't say sorry to me. You're the one who could've been seen." My roommate crossed her arms. "What are you waiting for? Sit down so I can fix it."

     I laughed. "Thanks, Felicity. You're the best."

     She bustled away to get her combs. "It's freaking hot today. Tried opening the windows but that was worse. Honestly, someone should tell the sun to tone it down."

     "Hotter in hell," I said.

     Felicity poked her head out of the bathroom. "I suppose you would be the expert."

     I chuckled and started removing my gloves. Felicity returned. She pretended not to notice my burned fingertips as she organized her tools, but as soon as I looked away she seized them and held my hand up for us both to see. "Really? You do this every time."

     I pulled my hand away. "It's part of my faith."

     "You don't have to touch the magical water if it burns you!"

     I hadn't told her that being in the church makes me nauseous, but she didn't need another thing to worry about. I smiled. "It's called holy water. Nothing magical about it."

     She scoffed. "Says you."

     I felt a light tugging as she worked on my hair. "Not sure how you're still agnostic after living with something like me."

     "Don't call yourself a thing."

     "Old habits die hard." A stretch of silence. I watched the hands of the little cuckoo clock Felicity's sister had brought back from Germany. Our apartment was gorgeous by my standards, although Felicity sometimes talked about fixing the decor. When we had the money. Which reminded me. "Ran into Devin after mass."