On Being a New Wizard in Arcadia--XII

    They finally went out for lunch in the early afternoon. The snow had continued to fall at a steady rate, and it looked as though most of the student body had decided to stay inside for as long as they could. There was no point in going to the dining halls given the time, so instead they tramped through the snow toward the student union. It was bustling, clearly the destination of choice for those brave enough to leave the comfort of their dorms or the library. Christian spotted Rei nested in one corner, Zoe sprawled across his lap, reading a battered copy of Moby Dick and occasionally nudging Zoe for clarification of a phrase or word. Christian considered going over to say hello, but his stomach growled with such vigor that Sebastian stopped and stared.

    "Right, the food court it is," he said, and slipped his arm around Christian's waist. "You go sit. I'm getting this."

    There was an empty table by the window. Christian hastened to it, then belatedly realized that it was empty because it was in the single coldest part of the entire building. He stood up to find a different table, but there weren't any to be had. Groaning, he sat back down and zipped his coat up all the way to his chin. He wondered if putting on his hat and gloves would be out of bounds.  He was still chewing on that when there was a sudden flurry of graceful scrambling, and Kit dropped into the chair across from him. Christian's guts tightened. They had not spoken much since Kit had dumped him abruptly at the end of Christian's freshman year. He had since come to terms with the dancer's love-them-and-leave-them mode of operation, but it didn't make the old wounds sting any the less. Kit shoved his wine-colored hair back with one elegant sweep of his hand, a preening peacock of a young man who at his core was a decent human being, just shockingly immature.

    "I am so glad to see you!" Kit breathed, reaching across the table to grab Christian's hands. "I heard you had OD'ed in front of the library. Darling, I wish you had come to me instead of turning to drugs!" He leaned in closer in a bid to be comforting. "Oh look, you're wearing the ring I got you!" He pulled Christian's hand nearer to examine it. "Oh, it looks so good on you! A perfect fit!" His pleasure was so genuine that Christian didn't feel the need to be short-tempered toward him, which was something of a novelty. "My sister Bethanney started her own boutique and she makes the most beautiful jewelry. When I heard you were sick in the hospital, I drove straight home and begged her to make me something special to give you, just so you would know that I still care about you. She did  such a great job, didn't she?"

    "It's very nice. You didn't leave a card; I was baffled about who might have left it." To have this mystery solved was a tremendous relief. Christian almost wanted to kiss him. Kit turned a very shocking shade of pink and shook his hair back into his face.

    "I was afraid that if you knew it was from me that you would just throw it out without a second thought," Kit said, all his sparkling pretense dropped. "I know I hurt you pretty hard back then, and I...well, I thought maybe it was my fault that you got sick and all. Like karma paying me back for being an asshole." Kit played with the ring on Christian's finger. "I mean, I'm an immature brat, and I like being young and pretty and flirted with by everyone, and you're way too good for me. You love so hard and with your whole heart and it scares me. I don't know what I would do with someone who'd love me even if I was ugly or crippled or old. And it just wasn't fair to make you have to wait forever for me to grow up."

    "Kit," Christian was unsure from where this need to confess had come. "What happened to me had nothing to do with you. And I was hurt, and a part of me is going to always hurt by how you dumped me." Kit winced at the phrasing, but did not argue. "I'm much happier with Sebastian, and he's the best thing in the world for me. He makes me try to take care of myself, and he likes me for who I am, not because I'm young or pretty or talented."

    "Those aren't exactly deal breakers," Sebastian interjected, pulling another chair up with his foot as he set a tray down. "Kit, I do hope you aren't causing him needless heartache again."

    Kit shot Sebastian a murderous look. "I just wanted to tell him I was sorry and that I'm glad that he's getting better. I just want him to know that I want to be his friend again." Kit gave Christian's hands one last squeeze, and he marched off, head defiantly high. Sebastian watched him return to his own table where several other dancers and acting students were seated, then turned his attentions to Christian.

    "I had them make you up a fresh burger with all the onions and pickles and condiments that they would willingly put on it. Oh, and onions rings for you too, and a lemon Coke." He pulled his own food off the tray and pushed it to one side. "Did you find the coldest seat in the house on purpose?"

    "Look around, where else were we going to sit?" Christian started in on his onion rings. "You're not being cross about Kit, are you?"

    "He's a little tease who thinks that it's cute to play the field and doesn't give a damn who it hurts." Sebastian had a healthy amount of venom in his tone. "It's his fault that I had to wait for my chance with you, and I really resent how long it took you to get over his fickleness."

    "He actually was trying to apologize," Christian said in a soft and toneless voice. "He was blaming himself for what happened to me. God, I hope we don't break up."

    "Why on earth would we break up?" Sebastian asked, concerned. "Babe, I'm not mad about Kit bothering you. Well, I am, but I'm mad at him, not you. That's no reason to break up a beautiful thing."

    "I couldn't handle the grudge you'd hold until the end of time," Christian said in the same soft, flat tone, but he had a smile teasing the corner of his mouth. "You're an iceberg."

    "Well, that's just fine, because we're not going to break up, at least if I have any say in the manner." Sebastian took a couple of onion rings and put them on his burger. "Did you ever find out who gave you that ring?"

    "Er. Yes." Christian stared at the table. "Kit. He thought it would help me remember that people care about me and what happens to me."

    "Ah." Sebastian looked thoughtful. "Do you need reminders?"

    "It helps, yes. It's what the star tattoos on my arm are there for. A star for everyone who would be hurt if something happened to me." Christian had never told this to anyone, let alone Sebastian. "The light blue ones are for June and Oliver and Rei. The rest, they have come one at a time."

    "I see." Sebastian's eyes were deeply concerned. "If I can ask, which one is mine?" Christian laid his hand high on his own chest. Sebastian looked confused. "It's not over your heart?"

    "No. It's where I feel your heart beating when you hold me."