My arm sounds in my ears, waking me up at noon. Way too early. I sigh and get up, ignoring my usual morning routine of ying in bed for an hour. I need to shower… With great strain, I force myself to walk into the bathroom, first thing in the morning. This is gonna suck.

  I turn on the water, get undressed, and use the time while it’s heating to relieve myself. I keep my head turned away from the mirror as I stand up, and step into the shower. The hot water streaming down my back nearly lulls me back into sleep, my wonderful forgotten dream calling out to me.

  I clean myself quickly, and spend more time just enjoying the water. Eventually, once I’m thoroughly soaked, I turn off the water, squeeze out my hair, and pull a towel into the tub. It doesn’t take me long to dry off, throw my sleep clothes back on, and head back into the bedroom.

  Now to figure out an outfit… I look through my closet, feeling my usual distaste at my clothing. None of this looks how I want it to on me… What do I even want though? I end up choosing a pair of ripped bck skinny jeans, and a simple bck shirt with a symbol from one of my favorite games on it. Good enough.

  I take a good look at myself in the mirror. Not bad but… My wet hair doesn’t hide my face like I normally have it. I need to blow dry it, ugh… I shake my head. Food first. My mom is in the living room doing something on her tablet. Like always.

  “Morning!” She calls out to me brightly.

  “Morning, Mom.” I reply, continuing towards the kitchen, but quickly stopping. “Hey Mom, could you help me dry and style my hair?”

  “Sure.” She responds, not looking up from what she’s doing.

  “Thanks.” I say, and head around the corner to the fridge.

  I look for my usual breakfast options, and my eyes stop on the ftbread thing I had yesterday. Twenty-five chickens… I pull the frozen sandwich out, and throw it in the microwave. I fold the empty box up, and put it in the recycling bin. The microwave beeps, and I pull out the sandwich before sitting down at the isnd to eat.

  My mom walks in almost immediately after I’ve started. “Hey, I didn’t know you liked those.”

  “Yeah, I uh…” Oh well. If I’m going to do this, I may as well be convincing. “I um… I’ve been thinking about being a vegetarian. So I tried it yesterday and it was really good.”

  “I see.” She says with a smile on her face. “What brought on this change?”

  May as well get my story straight. “I read a statistic that the average American eats one-hundred pounds of chicken a year. That’s like fifty chickens accounting for only using about half a chicken.” My mom gives me a quizzical look. “I don’t feel comfortable letting that many animals die so I can eat tasty food.”

  “Makes sense.” She says, and sits down next to me. “I’ll figure out some vegetarian meals for you.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I reply with a smile.

  “Of course, honey.” She responds. “Hey, wanna see what I’ve been working on?”

  “Yeah, sure.” I say while I continue munching on my breakfast.

  She turns her tablet towards me, and shows me a really beautiful drawing of a dress. “I’m trying to get into designing dresses. Maybe try and turn that into something.”

  The dress is genuinely beautiful. It’s the color of the night sky, and has small consteltions on it. It falls to the barely drawn model’s thighs, and is very poofy at the bottom. The top is sheer, and the sleeves aren’t connected at the shoulders, and are very short.

  “I like it a lot.” I say with a smile.

  “When I make the real one, would you mind modelling it for me?” My mom asks.

  My cheeks heat nearly instantaneously, and I immediately push back from the table, and away from her. “Yes, I would mind! I’m not going to wear a dress!” No way in heck am I going to be seen in a dress! I’m a boy!

  “Okay, okay!” My mom says, holding her hands up and getting off the chair. “I guess I’ll just have Rebecca’s daughter do it when she can. Let me know when you’re done, and I’ll do your hair.” As she walks away, I hear her mumble something under her breath, but can’t quite make it out.

  I shake my head and finish my food. Once I’m done, I head back to the living room where my mom is continuing to draw on her tablet. “I’m ready.” I say to her, and walk to the bathroom without waiting for a response.

  She follows me in, and pulls the hair dryer out of the lower cabinet. I stand facing her, my back to the mirror. She instructs me to kneel down slightly, so that my head is beneath hers, and starts brushing out my hair.

  I sit there, letting her tug at my hair for a while, before eventually the brush glides straight through. She pulls out some hair spray, and coats my head, before brushing a bit more, and moving things around.

  After a few moments, she steps back and smiles at me. “Looks good.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I say, and start to make for my room.

  “Aren’t you going to even look at it?” She asks.

  I sigh and turn towards the mirror. “Whoa…” I gasp as I see myself.

  For once I actually look good. My hair is still messy, but it’s in a way that looks intentional. My forehead is exposed unfortunately, but the style frames my face in a way that doesn’t make me look ugly.

  “Am I to take that as you liking it?” She asks.

  I start to nod repeatedly, but stop myself so as not to mess it up. “Yeah. I like it a lot. Thanks, Mom.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetie.” She replies, and exits the bathroom.

  I look at myself for a few more moments before heading back to my room. I grab my phone, once again seeing multiple missed texts. I really need to remember to check this more often, now that I have someone I’m talking to consistently.

  ‘Hey, good morning. Just wanted to check and see if we’re still on for today.’

  ‘Let me know when you can.’

  ‘Hey’

  ‘Yeah were still on’

  ‘Leaving here in a bit’

  ‘Be there at 2’

  I start to set down my phone, but she immediately responds.

  ‘Sounds good.’

  ‘How are you by the way?’

  ‘Im good’

  ‘Really good actually’

  ‘Excited to see you’

  ‘How are you’

  ‘I’m doing well. I am also excited to see you. Our conversation st night was really fun. I don’t really have too much for us to do, but I’m sure we’ll have fun.’

  ‘Youre gonna teach me about your witchy stuff right’

  ‘And how to remember my dreams’

  ‘Yes, but that’s not going to take up the entire time. We’ll figure something out. Worst case scenario, we show each other our favorite shows or something.’

  ‘Or you could let me read your book.’

  ‘Maybe’

  ‘Well see’

  ‘What, no “Eventually” this time?’

  ‘Lol’

  ‘You can read it eventually’

  ‘Anyways i gotta finish getting ready’

  ‘See you soon’

  ‘See you soon.’

  “You almost ready?”

  I jump and look up to see my mom in the doorway. “Yeah. Let me get my shoes on.”

  She nods, and walks away. I reach into my closet and pull out some bck canvas high tops. After cing them up, I look back at the mirror that makes up the door of my closet. I really don’t look bad. I sigh. This shirt kinda ruins things though… Maybe I could add a yer over top? It is really hot outside…

  I pull out a thin red fnnel, and throw it over my shoulders. The warmth hits me immediately, but I look much better. I’ll just suffer. I grab the small backpack I use to carry some basic stuff, and head out to the living room. My mom is waiting for me in the living room, purse in hand.

  She tilts her head slightly when she sees me. “Isn’t it a bit hot out for that?”

  “Yes.” I admit. “I’ll just take it off if I get hot.”

  “Fair enough.” She says, and opens the door. “Let’s go.”

  I follow her out and take a seat in her car. She puts on one of her pylists, full of music that I kinda like, a little bit anyways. As we pull out of the driveway, I pull out my phone to text Holly.

  ‘On the way’

  I go to set my phone down, but get a response almost immediately.

  ‘Great! Can’t wait to see you!’

  ‘Cant wait to see you either’

  My mom starts singing along to some cheesy pop song that is really something my generation would be listening to. She gives me a look, and nudges me on the shoulder.

  “Come on, sing with me!” She says excitedly.

  “Mom…” I say, not wanting to embarrass myself.

  “Come on!” She teases. “You never let me hear you sing!”

  “Eventually.” I sigh deeply. “Not now though.”

  “Whatever you say.” She replies, and continues singing her song.

  The drive goes by quickly, and soon enough we’re pulling up to a house that I vaguely recognize. It’s been a year or so since I’ve been here… I step out of the car, and turn around to see Holly coming out of her house.

  She’s so pretty. Holly is wearing a pair of light blue jeans, and an oversized t-shirt with a moth on it. Her blonde hair falls down to her hips, and looks to have been brushed but not styled.

  “Hey, Danny!” She shouts.

  “Hey Holly!” I call back, and head up to her, giving my mom a wave as I do. “How are you?”

  “Good.” She says with a slight giggle. “May’s out with her girlfriend, so we’ve got the pce to ourselves today.”

  I let out a soft sigh of relief. “Cool.”

  “Well,” She says, holding the door open. “Come inside!”

  The inside of her house is exactly as I’d expected from her, which is a bit weird considering it’s her mom’s house. The interior is covered in what I would consider to be a mix of hippie and witchy decor. Beads and tapestries line most of the walls and doors, and random art pieces take up most of the shelves. There are shoes next to the door, so I take mine off and set them next to the rest.

  “Let’s go to my room. I want to give you a tarot reading!” She says, grabbing my hand and pulling me to a doorway under a set of stairs.

  “Sure.” I agree, and let her drag me through a curtain covered in beads.

  The inside of her room is cozy. It’s a bit small, and painted a dark green. Fairy lights line the walls, and fake vines hang from every corner. Her bed is a bit rge, and with dark coverings. She slides off her slippers, and hops onto it, before pulling a box off her nightstand.

  “Okay so,” She says, patting the bed in front of her. “I’m going to read your future.”

  “Read my future?” I ask confused, while I climb onto her bed, and sit down, legs crossed.

  “Yeah. I can tell you generally what’s going to happen, as well as what actions to take for a good outcome.” She says with a smile. “It’s not very specific, but it should give you an idea.”

  “Sounds fun.” I say with a smile. “Let’s do it!”

  She pulls a deck of cards out of the box, and sets them on the bed in front of me. “Okay so, I need you to put your hand on the cards for a moment, just to get them used to your energy.”

  I pce my hand on the top of the cards. “Now what.”

  “Now, I draw them, and tell you what they mean.” She says with a smile.

  She draws a card and ys it down in front of me. On it is an illustration of a moon. “What does that one mean?”

  “The moon, in this position, is talking about your current situation.” She says. “The moon signifies confusion, and hidden truths. It suggests that something is not as it seems.”

  She pulls out another card and ys it sideways on top of the previous one. “Four of cups?” I ask.

  “This card represents a challenge. The four of cups shows how indecision can cause you to miss a great opportunity.”

  “I see. So I’m currently confused, and if I’m indecisive, I’ll miss something great?” I crify.

  “Let’s see what the rest of the cards say.” She says, and pulls out another card, pcing it below the first one. “This card is what you need to focus on.” She expins.

  The card shows a picture of a jester, and reads ‘the fool’. “What does this one mean?”

  “The fool represents new beginnings, taking risks, and expanding your horizons.” She says. “So it looks like the way forward is to do something new and take a risk.”

  “I see.” I say thoughtfully. “What’s next?”

  She pulls another card out, and pces it to the left of the first one. “This is the suit of swords. In this position it’s telling you what you need to leave behind.” She sighs gently. “This one isn’t as clear. It’s more up to you how you interpret it. Some people see it as different things, I’ll let you read through my book ter, but for now just think about what it means to you.”

  Before I can really think about the card's meaning, she pulls out another one and pces it above the first. “Two of pentacles?”

  “Yea, it’s not about satan or anything. It means adaptability, and change. In this spread, it represents your strengths.”

  “I see.” I say thoughtfully as she draws another card and pces it to the right of the first one.

  “This one is for your near future.” She says. “The empress stands for beauty and creativity.”

  “I am writing a book and working on songs.” I say, thinking about the creativity aspect of it.

  “Yeah!” She says, and pulls another card, and pces it down and to the right of the cross. “This is giving you advice on what to do.”

  The card is the five of pentacles, but it’s upside down. “Why is it upside down?” I ask.

  “They have different meanings based on whether they are reversed or not. In this case it means accepting help.” She expins.

  “So… The advice on what to do is to accept help from others.” I crify.

  “Yup!” She says happily, before drawing another card. “This one represents your environment.” She pces a card showing a man holding scales above the st one. “It means fairness and truth.”

  “I don’t really understand.” I say, looking at it doubtfully.

  “All of this is up to interpretation, but based on the other cards, I would say it means that people around you already know the truth, and won’t be upset about it.”

  “I see.” I reply mely. “How many more are there?”

  “Two more.” She says, taking another card and pcing it above the previous one. “This is about potential hopes and fears.”

  She ys down a three of cups, reversed. “Another reversed card.” I observe.

  “Yeah. This one signifies feeling excluded or rejected. Most likely it's talking about a fear, not a hope.” She ughs.

  “Yeah…” I say, and gesture for her to continue. She pces down a final card, with a rendition of the grim reaper on it. “Death?” I ask, more than a little scared.

  She giggles at me. “Death in this case doesn’t mean a literal death.” She soothes. “It represents transformation and rebirth.” She says with a smile. “This is the best potential outcome for your situation.

  “I see…” I say, thinking over what the cards have told me. “I don’t really know what to take from this.”

  She pulls out her phone and takes a photo of the spread. “Just think on it for a while. The meaning will come eventually.”

  Before we can talk about it more, I hear a soft rattling of beads. “Hey, Holly. I’m home.” May pokes her head through, and gives me a strange look for a moment, almost seeming surprised before annoyance settles on her face. “Oh, it’s you.” She shakes her head. “I’ll be in my room.”

  I wonder what that look was for… The beads close behind her, and I look to Holly. She gives me a soft smile. “Sorry about that. I thought she’d be gone for longer.”

  “It’s fine.” I say, trying to push her out of my mind. “What do you want to do now?”

  “Give me a moment.” She says, climbing off her bed. “I’m going to go talk to her. Make sure she doesn’t cause any issues while you’re here.”

  “Okay.” I say, and lean back against the wall. “See you in a sec.”

  ?????????????

  “See you in a sec.” I parrot, and walk out through the beads, leaving Danny alone in my room.

  I head straight up the stairs to May’s room, and head inside. She’s just taking off her jacket as I enter.

  “What do you want, Holly?” She asks, seemingly a little annoyed. “Hey, what’s the matter?” I ask, confused. “You knew he was coming over today.”

  “I thought you were going to go slowly.” She says, giving me a look.

  “That wasn’t me.” I protest. “He showed up like that.”

  “Whatever.” She says. “How did the tarot reading go?”

  “Perfectly.” I say with a smile. “He doesn’t know anything about it. Didn’t even question when I didn’t have him cut or shuffle or anything.”

  “I still don’t know how I feel about you faking a tarot reading.” She says, as she sits on her bed.

  “I don’t like it either,” I admit. “But it’s for the best. You’ll see.”

  “Whatever you say.” She says, and waves me away. “I won’t lie, it’ll be nice to see him suffer.”

  My thoughts drift to all the things I’ve heard about him. He’s such a weirdo. Maybe it was bad of me to bring him into my home, with how much he creeped on May when they were friends. I shudder slightly as a bad thought drifts into my mind. What if he does to me what he did to Alice. I shake my head. Then he goes to jail. He won’t get away with it twice.

  With all that in my head, my resolve to carry out my pn only strengthens. “Yes it will.” I agree, before heading back to my room.