Goodbye Normal

by Lily N Anderson

  Zoe stayed motionless for awhile, watching whatever would pass by her car. When she felt that her nerves had calmed down, she drove away back home.

  When anxiety wore off and equanimity finally kicked in, that night Zoe slept a true novice of the wizardry world of Doomsberg. The experience was powerful and very new, but she could no longer deny the fact that, it was well impinged within her. She had to accept her fate once and for all, denying it any further may bring harm than good. It was already happening to her. Whatever lay before her, she would have to fight willingly and whole heartedly. And maybe she would save lives in the process. Maybe she will help her town stay as peaceful as it was supposed to be.

  Only that she was blind to the profound knowledge that she was among the most powerful wizards of all time. Switching to positive thinking mode helped her sleep tight rather than dwell on her misfortune.

  The rest of the week turned out quiet eventful, unlike her expectations. She had gone through a series of different lapse of events and emotions like worrying, destruction, fun time and confusion. She had nearly burned her room to ashes while trying to light a candle on her bed. When the whim to try out her super power drove her senses, Zoe was adamant to stop trying whatever popped in her learners head.

  She went for a candle in the pantry and brought it to her bedroom ready for experiment one. She placed the candle on top of her bed and sat on her chair directly proportional to it. She closed her eyes and begun concentrating on lighting the candle. Her concentration got out of control and when her skin started to feel hotter than usual she opened her eyes to what was a burning bed. The bedspread, few clothes and pillows flamed away.

  “Oh my God, oh my god.” she yelped, running to the bathroom for water.

  When she was done clearing her mess all she could think of was what could have happened if Carol had walked in on her. She was lucky they were both at school until in the afternoon. The smoke stench was still redolent to her nostrils hours after the incident.

  She literally terminated her air freshener trying to get rid of the foul odor which proved in vain.

  The mixed up odor that resulted from her mess became too strong for her to bear. Later in the day, when everyone was home, she made sure visits to her room were totally abstained at all costs.

  Destruction number two was when she nearly burned her skin by wanting the shower water to get warmer and instead it got steaming hot. Despite the numerous disasters, she had some fun with her new talent.

  On Friday after the movie Zack had been wobbling about all week, they went for an ice-cream takeout. The night turned out to be a family date after all. There she had explored her talent to another level. Like playing around with Carol’s car keys, which made her feel gawky after thinking she was getting old because she kept forgetting and misplacing them stupidly. Better yet was the look on Zack’s face when his ice-cream became warm-cream after a single spoonful. She figured it would work perfectly for a fine payback alternative.

  Zoe was looking forward to meeting this mentor. It looked like she had a lot to learn about her powers. She had gone out of control in more than one occasion and was not sure how not to. Part of her wanted to be who she was becoming and another part of her wanted to remain the same old Zoe.

  The sad part of her new life was secrecy. She was having a hard time having to keep it all to herself, not being able to share it with her family or friends. Of which to her case was just her friend. Whenever she talked to them about anything and witchcraft popped in her mind, it felt like she was lying and that life was becoming frustrating.

  She desperately needed someone to at least talk to as a friend, someone who would not think she was going crazy, someone who understood exactly what she was feeling and going through. She had been through that same emotional state, and there was no one.

  Chris was not available throughout the week, she had tried calling on different times of the day, this time not caring if it was midnight or midday in Los Angeles but his phone kept going back to voice mail. As infuriating as it was whenever she thought of him she couldn’t help but worry herself sick.

  They had not talked in such a long time. Chris texting her out of the blue must have meant something. She couldn’t help but feel apprehensive for the unknown. Of late she had been surrounded by too much unbelievable craziness that her mind went along to make scary conclusion of any weird situation she came across. Optimism was quite an achievement for her those days.

  Liz thought she was been selfish with her time, but at the same time she figured that something else was keeping Liz busy lately. Her day out with Margaret turned out fine. They chatted a short while about the day’s events and the day was over. The remaining couple of days had seen few or even no messages at all between them. The new habit was not very common. She had not called as frequent as she used to and it seemed like they were both having some secret life of a sort. To Zoe that was a consolation, if by any chance it happened to be the case.

  On Wednesday morning just after a short workout, Zoe was home alone. It was well past ten o’clock and she had nothing interesting to do. With a mug of hot coco on her hand and bored out of her mind, she had already freshened her sweaty body and was getting used to listening to her own groans and footsteps echo around.

  She was reading to an extent her eyes had black spots underneath. It was not healthy being that lonely. Even the reading itself became a depressing agent.

  It had been a rainy week, June was settling in at a very wet speed. But the funny thing about tropic weather was, it may rain cats and dogs in one minute and shine burningly in the next. Either way you just have to deal with it. She summed up her troubles and though she going to get crazy if Liz is not at her disposal for the next twenty four hours.

  Liz would have to save her from going crazy with boredom. Whatever has been keeping her busy she would have to let loose for her.

  “Hey Liz, can you please fit me in that presidential schedule you’ve got going on.”

  “Zow, It’s not like that. I really am sorry. I know… I know I accused you of being selfish but I have been quiet because I have something new to tell you. This is a good excuse. I was really gonna call you. ”

  “What is it Liz?” she asked.

  “Amm…can you come over at Joe’s. I am just about to go there my self. Then we could talk about it.”

  “That’s not a problem, and that sounds serious are you okay?”

  “Ofcourse I’m okay, I assure you that you would have known if I wasn’t.”

  “K then. I will definitely come. At this point I could follow you to the moon or do anything for you, if you’d only ask.”

  “Huh, then I shall ASK! Can you please come over with those favorite neon crazy colored heels; I would love to have them.”

  “What… what did you say? Liz… I can’t hear you… Lizzy you are breaking up on me?” She faked a misconnection.

  Liz half laughed “So much for moon talk huh… I miss you.”

  “Oh NOW I hear you perfectly. Aaaww, I miss us.”

  “See you in five dear.”

  “Okay.”

  Zoe went to dress up felling jolly. Liz was such a treat at times. She could make her troubles disappear or at her crazy impulsive times, pile them up. She hummed her way through a pair of black skinning jeans and a pink top, with a pair of boots. Perfectly ready for a rainy day.

  She arrived at Joe’s twenty five minutes later. She greeted the two waiters visibly working their shift. One was George and the other was Monica. Joe was nowhere in sight so she went ahead and asked for Liz.

  “Hey George have you seen-”she asked while checking around, the place was nearly empty. The busy hours start an hour from then. She quickly spotted Liz at the very end of the restaurant grinning broadly at her.

  “Arrrgh…there you are.” she said walking towards Liz. Liz was already standing and stretching her arms towards her on a beautiful flower filled knee length gown. They hugged, kissed lightly then settled down. T
hey sat facing each other. Zoe’s back was facing the door.

  Zoe looked over at her colorful plate, and a half full glass of juice. Liz was fiddling around a plate of fruit salad. There were watermelons, strawberries, pineapples and apples.

  “That looks tasty?” Zoe salivated.

  Liz swallowed “It is! You should try it” she vouched.

  Zoe half turned to order but Liz beat her to it.

  “Sweetie, please come over with another plate.” she asked George, directing her finger to her own.

  “Sure babe.” George said casually.

  Zoe rolled her eyes and turned slowly toward Liz’s reddened face. She was just glowing.

  “Now I get it, the silence, sassy cute dress and the lovely hair do. It’s all the new guy.”

  “He is scrumptious. He is sweet, funny, fun, easy to talk to and so not boring.”

  “What? Was I in Africa or something? When did you have the time to dig out all that?”

  “It’s amazing what four continuous dates can do to you”

  “You already went out for four dates?

  “Unhuh” Liz agreed looking so lively.

  “Seriously? How could you keep all that for a whole week?”

  “You’ve been enveloped somewhere yourself. Besides I’ve been having the time of my life, so I named it The Ultimate rehab.”

  “Selfish bitch” she teased.

  “I don’t care, call me names all you want.” she smiled proudly.

  Immediately George came to their table with a plate of salad on a tray with a dazzling smile to top it up.

  “There you go, juice is on the house.” he said, placing the plate and a glass of mango juice in front of Zoe.

  “Thank you. Now I see why.” Zoe confessed, taking a sip of her juice.

  Both George and Liz chuckled as he placed a slight peck on her cheek. As he occupied the empty space beside Liz, Zoe made a not that they were a beautiful match. She sure felt like the odd one out, in no time she may need her phone to keep her from getting constant blushes.

  George stretched his arm to Zoe for a handclasp then said.

  “We haven’t been introduced formally. My name is George Gordon, and you are?”

  Zoe had a better chance to take a good look at him. George was good looking, with short black hair and calm brown eyes. She estimated he was taller than her by an inch or an inch and a half.

  “Pleased to formally meet you, Zoe Brown.” she smiled back then casually broke of the contact.

  “This is really good, there is a different element in it.” Zoe said, taking another sip of her juice.

  “You wanna know the secret?” George asked.

  Zoe tilted her head and raised her brow in response.

  “It’s lime. We blend a sliced piece of seedless lime with the mangos and it brings out that sweet sourness.” He supplied proudly.

  “Nice, couldn’t have guessed that.” Zoe admired, poking some fruit on her fork.

  George leaned back on his seat and extended his arm to take a hold of Liz’s shoulder.

  “I have heard so much about you including tales about your rare eyes, which I must say are very stunning, the last time I saw a black person with those, was in a movie by aamh..”

  “There quiet a number of them actually, Stacey Dash, Vanessa Williams, the dude ammh..” Zoe listed.

  “Michael Ealy.” Liz pulled through.

  “Exactly!” Zoe exclaimed as she pointed a fork at Liz.

  “They are pretty on you.” George marveled.

  “Well, thank you. Your quiet a charmer yourself, though I cannot say the same about hearing lots about you.” Zoe said throwing an accusing eye at Liz.

  “Owwkayy.” Liz declared and pulled George’s chin to her with her finger “eyes back on me tiger. I will reap the both you if you keep testing my patience.”

  “She is a keeper.” George declared with a smooth laugh.

  “I don’t blame her. So where’re you from George? Clerktown or Goldberry.”

  “Actually I’m not from anywhere In Desolia. Am from a very small town in Alabama, called Clay, you heard of it?”

  “Not really.”

  “I told him Doomsberg is literally New York for him.” Liz japed.

  They chuckled in unison “A small town guy huh, Doomsberg suits you perfectly.” Zoe concluded.

  “I already feel at home.” he smiled, glaring at Liz adorably straight in the eye. “I guess this wizard cast a spell on me.”

  It was a joke, she took it as one, But her eyes had suddenly flickered at the mention of wizard. George looked back at her and she smiled meekly, disguising the meek smile with admiration for them.

  “But I don’t have an interesting life. Unlike you, Plus I hear you’re into dangerous stuff.”

  “Don’t you guys have anything else to talk about?” Zoe jeered.

  “No we just covered up every important base.” Liz chuckled up a defense.

  “Glad to know am important, And point of correction George, am not into dangerous but into different stuff.”

  “Interesting, what kind a different are we talking about here? like aamh…” he paused looking around for an example “him different?” he pointed outside the window. A gothic teen was walking past the restaurant.

  “Different doesn’t have to be scary! It’s either extraordinary or just not popular, for example I went to palm street last week.”

  “Isn’t that a scary and dangerous part of the town?” George looked both surprised and interested.

  If he’d asked that question on the very night she’d probably shudder. Right now she was over it and past that phase.

  “Yes. But I went there for the scenery. I was doing a personal fun time photo shoot. There are quite great views out there; I will send you the photos.” She offered glancing at Liz who was nodded her nose in the juice glass.

  “I want them too.” George pouted.

  “You will get them”

  “So there is nothing to be scared of out there.”

  “None that I know of, I may be walking with an angel.”

  “You sure are. One of these days I will borrow you and your angel for a tour in the dark side.”

  “Be my guest” Zoe accepted with half a laugh.

  “So what’s your deal with Doomsberg… other than stealing best-friends” Zoe pestered shifting her regard to Liz.

  George chuckled, but before he could answer her, Joe interrupted him.

  “George, need some help.” Joe’s big voice called out to him.

  “Hold the thought, will be back.” He placed another peck on Liz, whispered something flushable in Liz eye then strode away.

  Zoe turned to greet George. He saw her and Joe smiled fondly.

  “Ooh hi kiddo”

  “Hey Joe, this is the last time. Won’t answer to that ever again” she threatened.

  “I’ll keep note. Welcome, I don’t see much of you these days. Where have you been hiding?”

  “All sorts of places, am touring Desolia.”

  “Good luck with that. Am off touring my kitchen” Joe said disappearing into the hotness.

  Zoe chortled humorously then restored her attention to Liz.

  “Wow” Zoe raised her brows.

  “I know…jackpot!” Liz sung.

  “He is so considerate; I thought I’d be surfing eBay just to keep from drowning in my loneliness.”

  “Very considerate of him huh.”

  “Yeah, you guys must talk all the time.” she assessed

  “We do, he is actually more talkative.” Liz informed with a chuckle.

  “Am glad you are happy.” She looked really happy

  “Yea, I just hope it doesn’t go away soon.” she said dreamingly.

  The look on Liz’s face had more emotion than her voice, she looked so hopeful.

  “So you guys are like serious or something?”

  Liz shrugged “I don’t know, I just wanna enjoy this for now. This time I don’t want to get ahead
of myself. The fewer the promises the lesser the expectations.”

  “Good strategy soldier, another one of your theories huh?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Kudos girlfriend and careful, I’ll start confusing you with Harriet Turk.” Zoe quipped.

  “You know how they say experience is the best teacher. Gosh, I now sound like my father, but it’s how it is.” Liz eat a piece of strawberry “Enough about me. Tell me your dirty little secret.”

  Liz, two weeks ago I found out that am a wizard, how about that! She looked at her thinking, if only it was that easy.

  “And who said I have a secret?” Zoe asked muzzling a laugh.

  “You do, so spill the beans before I choke them out of you.”

  “No need to get aggressive tigress.”

  Liz looked at her with brows arched high and held her fork mid air. Waiting.

  “I received a white on red rose bouquet from-”

  “Josh?” Liz interrupted.

  “That’s right, and he wants to be friends, sent me a forgiveness note aand that’s about it.”

  Liz pressed her lips momentarily then said “I think you should forgive him.”

  “Why?” Zoe was surprised; she hadn’t expected that from her, not Liz of all people.

  “First because it’s not like he cheated on you, and you told me yourself he barely remembered you. I know what he did was rude but nonetheless forgivable and you may never know what he has been through all this time.”

  “Alabama boy must be a wisdom charm too.”

  “Am serious Zow” Liz said ignoring the sarcasm.

  She groaned “I know, I thought about that too. The poor thing must have gone through a lot of straining to finally remember me, and find my house Anyway mom also says I should do the same thing”