A Hint of Magic (12 page)

“I can’t believe the costume shop is closed,” Parker grumbled a short time later. 

“To be fair, it’s a
holiday
shop,” Clarissa reminded him as they walked back to the car.  “I guess the owner decided to take some time off before restocking and opening back up for Christmas.  I can’t say I’m surprised, to tell you the truth.”

“What was with the giant fence outside?” Parker asked, obviously still disappointed.  “Are they selling real live vampires?  Have they kidnapped Santa’s elves and put them to work inside?  The place looked more like a maximum security prison than a holiday shop!”

“Christmas tree thieves are to blame,” Clarissa said knowingly.

He stopped walking and looked at her.  “People actually stole Christmas trees?”

“Yep, so after that the shop owner built the big fence.”

Parker shook his head in disbelief.  “Do people have no shame?”

“Some don’t,” she replied.  “And speaking of people who have no shame, don’t look now. 
Kimmy
is headed this way.”

A blank look came over Parker’s face.  “Should I know who that is?” he asked.

“Hi!” Kimmy trilled, waving enthusiastically and smiling brightly.  Her greeting was, of course, directed solely at Parker.  Even though Clarissa was standing right there next to him, she may as well have not existed.

“Um, hello,” Parker replied politely.

“That scarf is a great color on you,” Kimmy purred.  “It brings out the green in your eyes.”

“His eyes are blue,” Clarissa corrected her, unable to help herself.

Forced to acknowledge her, Kimmy sneered.  “And I suppose you think that hair color suits you?” she asked snottily.  “Goes to show how much you know!  It’s far too dark for your pasty white complexion.”

“It’s my natural hair color,” Clarissa replied.

“Natural hair colors are
so
last year,” Kimmy said flippantly.

“So should I be dying my hair blue?” Parker asked, eyeing Kimmy’s neon locks.

“I can do it for you!” Kimmy chirped, her voice suddenly reverting back to that flirtatious, sickeningly sweet tone.  “Stop by the salon tonight after we close and I’ll take good care of you,” she promised.

“Actually, it was a joke,” Parker explained politely.  “I don’t think I can pull off blue hair.”

“Sure you can!” Kimmy insisted.  “I think any color would look great on you.”

Parker cleared his throat.  “We have to be going,” he informed her.  “Have a good day.”

As he and Clarissa walked away, he leaned in close.  “That was awkward,” he whispered.  “I don’t think she even realized I was making fun of her awful blue hair.  And for the record, I think your hair color is gorgeous.”

***

Ten minute later, Clarissa and Parker had arrived at their next destination.  Thankfully Kimmy had been heading in the opposite direction.  Clarissa nonetheless wished that insufferable snob would move clear across the world!

Come to think of it, maybe she ought to relocate to another planet.  With her blue hair, she’d probably fit right in with a population of aliens…

“That’s Russ over there,” Clarissa whispered, pointing out the tall, husky former football player.  He was standing out in front of the office.  She recognized him instantly – and the sight of him put her on edge.

Together, Zack, Mikey and Russ had been the biggest bullies in town.  They had pushed nerdy, defenceless kids like Greg around relentlessly.  They had taken pleasure in bulldozing over those weaker than them, and they had enjoyed a lack of accountability thanks to the infuriating mentality that high school athletes were like gods. 

“If looks could kill,” Parker teased, noting the expression of distaste on Clarissa’s face.

“Ugh, I can’t stand him,” she muttered as she climbed out of the car.

“I never would have guessed,” Parker said sarcastically.  “I bet you’re awful at poker.”

Clarissa ignored him.  She was already walking toward Russ.

The former high school football star hadn’t seen her yet.  He was busy loading some equipment into the back of his van.  He was whistling under his breath and seemed to be in a cheerful mood.  His face was mostly concealed by a ball cap that covered his buzz cut.

When Clarissa got closer, she saw that Russ still had a visible scar across his left cheek. 

He had gotten it from a particularly brutal fight during which he had knocked out two of his victim’s teeth.  He had always been a fighter, aggressive and mean.  He’d always had a temper and he had rarely fought fair.  He was a scary guy.

“Russ?” Clarissa called, forcing herself to sound chirpy and upbeat.  “Is that you?”

He stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her. 

For a moment there was no recognition whatsoever.  It wasn’t surprising.  Clarissa had more or less stayed off his radar during high school.  Well, except for the time back in senior year when he had asked her out. 

She had, of course, turned him down.  She had been terrified to do so, afraid that he might turn his wrath on her.  Thankfully, that hadn’t happened.  Instead, he had immediately found someone else to date and acted like Clarissa didn’t exist.  That had been a huge relief.

Actually, confronting Russ right now was pretty scary.

“Clarissa?” he asked, almost as though he couldn’t believe it.  “Clarissa Spencer?”

“Yep, it’s me,” she confirmed.

“I heard you had moved back to town,” Russ said, wiping his hands off on his work uniform.  “Why don’t I ever see you around?  I’m down at the bar most every night,” he added, as though she was supposed to be impressed by that.

“It’s not really my thing,” she told him politely.

“You always thought you were too good for me,” Russ chuckled.

Her eyes widened.  Beside her, she felt Parker stiffen.

“Relax, I’m just playing around,” he said.  “Who’s this guy?” he asked Clarissa.

“Parker Tweed,” Parker said, extending his hand.

Russ looked Parker over.  For a moment Clarissa thought Russ was going to refuse to shake hands.  But then at the last minute, he surprised her.  He shook Parker’s hand and said, “I’m just about to head down to the bar.  Come with me.”

“No thanks,” Clarissa said.

“Okay,” Parker agreed at the exact same moment.

She shot him a look but he merely shrugged.  Then the three of them crossed the street.

“So you work for your dad now?” Clarissa asked, mostly just to fill the silence.

“Yeah, it turns out I wasn’t college material,” Russ smirked.  “Not like you.”

“I thought you went to college on a scholarship?” she asked in confusion.

“I did,” he replied.  “A few weeks in I got expelled for fighting on campus.”

“Oh.”  That sounded exactly like the Russ she knew and despised.

“Say it,” he urged.  He was walking beside her now.  Parker was trailing behind them.

“Say what?” she asked, averting her eyes as they walked into the bar.

“You’re thinking I deserve it,” he said matter-of-factly.  “And I guess I do.”

He ordered himself a beer and plunked down on a barstool before speaking again. 

Russ looked up at Clarissa, who was standing awkwardly beside him.  “My punishment for being kicked out of college is that I get to take over the family business, ha-ha.  You might be pleased to know I’ve managed to shock myself on more than one occasion,” he added. 

Unsure of what to make of Russ’s comment, Clarissa said nothing.  And she didn’t have to.  At that moment, Zack spotted them from across the bar.  His loud, boisterous hollering rang out, momentarily bringing all other conversations to a halt.

“Russ!  Get over here!” Zack bellowed.  It sounded more like an order than an invitation, but that was hardly surprising.  Back in high school, Zack had been the ringleader.  He had given the orders while Mikey and Russ had unquestioningly complied. 

Clarissa was surprised when Russ didn’t immediately jump to his feet and rush over.  Instead, he looked away, suddenly very interested in his drink.  In fact, he seemed to be trying to pretend he hadn’t heard Zack.  Unfortunately for Russ, he wasn’t a very convincing actor.

Thirty seconds later, Zack had stormed over.

“What’s the matter, going deaf?” Zack demanded.  “Come over and shoot pool with me.”

“No thanks,” Russ mumbled.  “I’m not feeling so great.”

“I’ll give you something to feel bad about!” Zack retorted, ever the hothead. 

He took a menacing step toward Russ before Parker stepped in. 

Parker positioned himself squarely in front of Zack.  He was effectively shielding Clarissa and, to a lesser extent, Russ.  Even though Zack seemed drunk and unpredictable, Parker didn’t seem fazed.  He stared Zack right in the eyes as if silently daring him to make a move.

“Get out of my way,” Zack slurred.

“I’ll shoot pool with you,” Parker offered.

Zack blinked.  He stared at Parker blankly for a moment before recognition set in.  Then his entire demeanor changed.  “It’s you!” Zack crowed, immediately puffing out his chest.  “I beat you at poker so bad last time!” he chortled.  “And you’re back for more?”

“I’m back for more,” Parker confirmed.

“Ha!  You’re so dumb, man.  You’re dumber than a…than a thing that’s really dumb!”

Clarissa was surprised when Parker said nothing. 

Maybe he felt like arguing with or one-upping Zack would be a waste of breath.  Or maybe he just really wanted to play pool, even though he had already proven he was no good at it.  Whatever his reasoning, he walked off with Zack, the biggest jerk in town. 

She forced herself to turn her attention back to Russ, who was now nursing his second beer.

She sat down next to him.  “What was that all about?” she asked, hoping he wouldn’t be offended by the question.  “Back in high school you and Zack were inseparable.”

“Yeah, well I made a lot of stupid decisions back in high school,” Russ replied, displaying remarkable insight for someone Clarissa had long ago written off as an imbecile.  “As much as I complain about taking over the family business, I kind of have to make it work.  I’m not good at anything else.”

“I don’t understand.  What does that have to do with Zack?”

“You know how he is.  People –
potential customers
– see me hanging out with him and Mikey and suddenly they don’t want to hire me.  Do you know some folks have called in electricians from Green City rather than deal with me?”

“Wow.”

“Yeah,” Russ took a swig of his beer. 

“So you weren’t at the Halloween party, I take it?” Clarissa asked.

“Nah…I heard about what happened but I wasn’t there.  I may be a lot of things but I’m no moron.  I know I have to keep my distance from Zack and Mikey if I’m ever going to make a living here.  I need to stay out of trouble.”

Clarissa had to wonder if Russ’s past would be so easily forgotten.  She knew that she certainly wouldn’t ever forget what a cruel, violent bully he had been.  But at the same time, she could understand his reasoning.  In fact, she could even respect what he was doing.

Respect was a sentiment she hadn’t ever expected to feel toward Russ.

“Hey!” Zack’s indignant yelling rang out.

Clarissa turned to see him basically throwing a giant, man-sized temper tantrum over by the pool table.  Then she saw him and Parker apparently wrestling over a wallet.  A moment later, Parker walked purposefully over to her, a thick wad of cash in his hand.

“What happened?” she demanded right as Zack tripped over a chair and fell on his face.

“We should go,” Parker said simply, tucking the money into his shirt pocket.

“Get back here!” Zack bellowed, lumbering over.

“We should go right now,” Parker said, in case the urgency wasn’t already apparent. 

He and Clarissa hurried out of the bar.  Zack followed them, huffing and puffing and hollering.  Parker pulled her into an alleyway so they would be out of sight.  Then, when they could no longer hear Zack making a commotion, they made a run for the car.

“What happened back there?” Clarissa demanded once they were safely inside the vehicle.

“I won.”

She raised an eyebrow.  “No offence, but I saw for myself how badly you lost last time.  You’re terrible at pool, Parker.  And Zack is somewhat decent, considering he probably spends most of his waking hours at the bar drinking and shooting pool.  How on earth did you manage to win?”

Parker said nothing.  Instead he merely gave her A Look and waited for her to draw a conclusion.

“You hustled him!” Clarissa exclaimed, the light bulb coming on.  “You pretended to be awful at pool last time so you could go back and beat him!  I can’t believe you hustled him!  That’s pretty brilliant, actually.  How much were you two playing for?”

“Five hundred,” Parker replied.  “To be honest, I was surprised he had that much cash on him.  I was playing more to show him up in front of his buddies than to make money.  But lucky me, I got both.”