The dorm was peaceful for the two roommates as relaxing classical music played over their speaker. Between two roommates was a tightly packed, and fairly plain, room with a pair of desks and bunks, which had been covered in various potted plants with a set of instruments in a corner. Baron sat at his desk, focused on getting through his stack of homework, who began to think he should have picked an easier degree. Balancing his life was beginning to feel nearly impossible.

  Average height. Average weight. Average brown hair. Average brown eyes, and goofy looking round cheeks that didn't match the rest of his cut size. In all honesty, Baron thought he somehow looked below average when the sum of his features formed an awkward face.

  Behind Baron, Abel comfortably lay out on the bottom bunk with his acoustic guitar. With loose curls that stylishly split near the middle, a sharp jawline, and high cheekbones, Baron thought him not just more attractive than his own bland features, but he believed he was undeniably handsome to anyone. He played to the tune of the ambient music that played over the speaker as he seamlessly joined the composer’s vision. These live performances were not only delightful but always seemed to help Baron focus on his studies. The vibes were serene and peaceful for the two of them, and nothing could possibly disturb it.

  Their dorm room’s door swung open with a crash into the wall. Neither roommate acknowledged the disturbance, each continuing with what they were preoccupied by.

  “Good! Seems like the two of you are free.” Dawn walked in, before closing the door behind her with a smile that complemented her vibrant ginger hair.

  “Hey, Dawn.” Baron greeted her with an innocent smile as he finished writing down the last of the notes he had been working on. Without losing tempo to the music, Abel greeted her with a silent nod.

  “What’s up, boys. I’m gonna need your help.” Stood confidently in the center of the room, Dawn looked between the two of them with a smirk. “My roommate, Jen, is throwing a big party tonight.” A familiar irritation slipped into her voice. “And since she’s such a bitch, I’m not invited unless I can get this bum to come,” she said, gesturing toward the quiet Abel as she did.

  “I’m not going.” Without a second thought, Abel gave her a direct answer as he continued to play his instrument. Sat silently, Baron watched the two interact with a content smile.

  “Come on, don't be that way, Abel. Baron will come too!” Before Baron could react, Dawn grabbed his shoulder and began squeezing it to pressure him. Despite her bony build, Dawn had an extraordinary amount of strength due to their cognizant nature. “Right, Baron?” Dawn wasn't much taller than Baron, and had distinctly ginger hair she maintained, alongside her slender build and thin lips. Like Abel, Baron not only thought she was better looking than him, but pretty in general; though he saw her more like a sister.

  “I’m invited?” No part of Baron wasn’t expecting to be involved in this discussion of parties. He could already feel the sweat on his forehead forming from the thought of going to something with so many people. “But, I’ve uh. I’ve never been to a party,” he sounded embarrassed to admit it to them.

  “See, it doesn’t seem like he wants to go either,” Abel pointed out with little emotion or enthusiasm as he tended to do.

  As he talked, Dawn drove her thumb uncomfortably into Baron’s back as her grip tightened. “Come on, Abel, you don't wanna be the one to rob Baron of that experience, do you?” She smiled connivingly. “You don't wanna miss out on your first party, right Baron?”

  “I guess it does sound fun,” Baron said, sounding a little nervous. Really it sounds amazing. Though Baron didn’t use his Manifest to read her aura, he still knew that Dawn would harm him if he didn’t go with her plan.

  “Listen, I’m not trying to ruin your guys’ fun…” Abel stopped playing his guitar, laying it beside himself on the bed. Instead he played with a strand of his brown springy hair that sat over his unhealthily pale skin, as Abel’s pretty hazel eyes looked between him and Dawn.

  “But Jen is using this as a chance to get with me. She’s going to harass me the whole time.” No one could deny that as the truth, Dawn’s roommate had a weird obsession with him.

  Each of them fell silent as the classical music continued in the background. Baron looked up toward Dawn as Abel met his own eyes. While he’d never say it out loud, both of his friends made Baron a little envious of his round face and dull features.

  “I really don't want to rob either of you of this experience,” Abel broke the silence with his quiet voice.

  “No, I get it. You do have a point…” With a begrudging tone, Dawn finally eased up on Baron’s shoulder.

  “It did sound like a fun idea,” Baron said reassuringly as he smiled between the two. “And there’ll definitely be another party for us to go to!” At least, I hope so. Were there really many more chances for someone like me to get invited to a party like this? But that wasn’t important, and Baron did his best to hide that doubt.

  “Yeah, always next time.” Evidently Dawn had a much harder time hiding the disappointment on her pale and gaunt face, before she released Baron from her grasp. “We can go hit up a burger place. Maybe head into the Haven after? Always something goin’ on there.” While she talked, Baron could feel the enthusiasm and energy draining from her voice; though she did her best and failed to hide it.

  “That sounds fun too. Maybe you guys could finally meet Hugo.” Baron looked to Abel, who had been sitting there silently. While they’d never admit it, Baron knew that they were underestimating just how cool his adopted dad was. “What do you think?”

  The silence was broken, when Abel released a long sigh and panted his face into his hands. “I can’t believe I’m saying this…” Abel whispered into his palms before he stood up from the bed. “Let’s go to this party… But Baron, you gotta stick with me.” Abel made sure that stipulation was clear through his tone.

  Bouncing with excitement, a smile spread over Dawn’s face, that the other couldn’t help but join in; Abel’s more handsome in his opinion. “Yes! Thank you, Abel! You’re the best, man!” She firmly slapped his back before she lovingly grabbed his shoulder as she did Baron’s before. Unlike Baron, Abel squirmed and writhed under her touch until he managed to escape her tight hold.

  “I didn’t really plan on wandering from you two, so that’s perfect.” Who else would I even talk to? Excitement laced in nervousness filled Baron as he rose from his seat.

  “Should be fine then.” Abel grabbed his sweater as Dawn ushered them out the door. She seemed very eager for them to get a move on.

  “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Abel. You may have the best hoe-repellent money can afford.” Dawn smirked mischievously at Baron, before leading them out of the dorm. Abel followed her out, chuckling under his breath as he waited for Baron in the doorway.

  “W-wait, what! Hoe-repellent? What the hell is that supposed to mean?” With an embarrassed smile, Baron followed after his friends, who waited for him in the hall.

  …

  The trio stood, awed at the expensive house that Jen’s parents owned. It was more like a manor with its massive size and prestigious white coloring. Supported by large columns on each side of the entrance, and more windows or floors than he'd ever seen for a single person's house. It was enough to make him nervous as the taxi pulled into the wide driveway that looped around a patch of rose bushes. Baron had never been to such a luxurious house. He wasn’t sure exactly what it was going to be like in there, but he did know that he couldn’t wait to get out of the back of this crammed taxi.

  As the vehicle came to a stop, Dawn eagerly jumped out with Abel sliding out after her. While they stood outside of the cab, Baron tore open his velcro wallet to pay for the trip and tipped their driver. He had enjoyed talking to them during the ride and appreciated their time.

  “Thank you, ma’am. I hope that everything with your father’s treatment goes well.” Before she peeled out of the driveway, Baron waved her off as they met smiles.

  He caught up with his two friends, where they looked up at the prestigious house that made his stomach sink. Woah. Even from here, he could feel the boosted bass from the speakers and see the strobing lights that slipped through the shaded windows. An anxiety washed over his mind, making his face feel hot and flushed. The thought of getting lost and failing Abel raced through his mind. How could he be ‘hoe-repellent’ in such a place? I'm going to be eaten alive in there trying to defend Abel’s virtue of innocence.

  That feeling sat like a boulder in his stomach, weighing him down and making him wish he'd never climbed out of the cab, or ever agreed to come in the first place. It's not like he was the one that needed to be invited, nor did he expect anyone to care for him to be there.

  In times like these, Baron wished he was more like Spriggan. Yeah, he knew that Spriggan was just an illusion spell that corrected the faults of his face, but he was also everything that Baron wished he could be. He was bold, confident, secure in himself, and unlike Baron, Spriggan was strong. Maybe if I could muster Spriggan’s resolve, then I would have been invited to a party like this before today. Maybe if K was more charming like Spriggan, I wouldn’t be referred to as ‘hoe-repellent’ either. At times like this, he couldn't help but wish that he was less like Baron and more like Spriggan at times like this.

  Unheard to Baron, Dawn jabbed her elbow into Abel’s rib with a smug smirk. “I knew that neither of you would let me down.” He wasn’t spared either. Dawn drove her elbow into him with a dull pain that reclaimed his attention.

  The three of them walked over the fancy marble pathway to the tall set of wooden double doors, before Dawn paused dramatically with each door-knob in hand. “You boys ready?” Dawn didn’t wait for a response, instead she pulled the pair of doors free. Immediately, it resulted in them being engulfed in a tidal wave of smoke, music, and strobing lights.

  Baron coughed into his sleeves, eyes watering from the smoke as he looked up to his friends. Unlike him, Dawn seemed to take a deep breath in with a smile of anticipation. As he tended to be, Abel was unreactive to it all. The smoke, the noise, the people, none of it seemed to bother him or matter. To Baron, this looked easy for Abel and Dawn, but everything always seemed that way for them.

  “I knew this would be good. I'm gonna go find some sucker that's willing to share some bud with a pretty girl, which I so happen to be known for,” Dawn said, before she slipped through the crowded hall of rowdy, drunk college students that stank of booze and earthy smoke.

  Baron watched as she left the two of them behind, and he quickly lost track of her in the mess of people. Heat generated from the bouncing mob lingered in the stagnant air, which made Baron feel stuffy and hot. While he was used to crowded cities and busy campuses crammed with students, this type of party was not something he’d experienced before. And he was starting to realize that he wasn’t quite sure what to do at an event like this.

  “So what are we supposed to do now?” Baron looked toward Abel for security. Personally, he was unsure what to do with his hands or his stiff arms.

  “We can grab a drink?” Abel asked nonchalantly as he passed seamlessly through the cracks of the disorderly party that people seemed to create when they saw him coming. Dawn does make it sound fun… For a moment, Baron really considered it as he followed the navigator. He’d never drank before or done any drugs in his life, and he’d be lying if he tried to say at least a little curious. After all, Dawn had told him many times about her own fun experiences and even called him a dork sometimes for not trying them, but he couldn’t seem to commit past a guilt that lingered over his mind.

  “Nah, I’d rather not.” Call it fear, anxiety, or what he would consider a wise decision, but Baron felt like he’d be a hypocrite for drinking before the legal age. After all, Spriggan had been enforcing the law and helping others, not policing them, then turning around to break the same rules he wanted others to follow.

  “Is that alright with you?” he asked, unsure of his own conviction.

  “Of course, I won't drink either then,” Abel said as he guided them with a silent confidence to a secluded corner through the mix of strangers.

  “You seem a little more experienced in this environment. Did you party a lot before college?” Baron continued to follow after Abel, who made his way for an empty loveseat for two in the corner.

  With a shrug, Abel as he took a seat. “Got invited to a few parties back in highschool, but not something I did often,” he said, as he gestured toward the spot next to him for Baron. “Let’s relax. We may be here for a while.” Abel sounded a little annoyed as he scanned the room, and despite Baron’s anxieties, he knew that it was time. It was time to keep his friend safe. It was time to embody what it means to be ‘hoe-repellent’. This is where I make my stand.

  The two of them sat undisturbed for some time. Abel played games on his phone, while uninterested in the world around him. In the meantime, Baron watched the ongoing party. It was all so new to him, he couldn't help but take it all in, but he did stay alert for approaching ‘threats’ like Jen or people that would potentially try and make a move on Abel.

  Even though they had found a quieter corner of the house, it still felt overwhelming as he feared it would be. It was nearly impossible to keep track of what was happening, or who was around them with the overstimulating nature of this gathering. He at least hoped that Abel’s disinterest would drive people away.

  “You enjoying the party, Abel?” The familiar feminine voice crushed that hope. Each of them looked up to see the girl that addressed them. Unfortunately, it was Jen with her long brown hair, tan skin with a red flush, and dress that revealed more than enough skin to make Baron blush. Honestly, Baron had always thought that Jen was attractive with the natural shine her face had, but something about her rude attitude diminished those attributes for him.

  “I think he’s been enjoying it,” Baron answered for Abel, who decided that the best response was silence. In her inebriated state, Jen snapped her head with an annoyed look toward Baron.

  “I’m sorry, but I wasn’t talking to you, Baron.” Her breath had the lingering smell of alcohol and her eyelids were struggling to fully part or remain on a single point for long.

  Baron glanced at his friend, who he stared off into space. Abel had a habit of getting distracted by things unseen by others, or at least Baron assumed that was what was happening here.

  “I uh, I think he’d rather not.” He must not have spoken with enough confidence because she clearly took two steps closer to Abel as he spoke.

  “You're no fun. Can’t you let Abel speak for himself?” she pushed back on Baron in her blissful state. He hadn’t expected her to resist their boundaries so hard. What was his next play? His mind raced - surely even Baron could outsmart someone who was this drunk.

  “I’m sorry, but he uh, he isn’t feeling the best.” Is that all I’ve got?! Baron tried to speak with a smile and soft tone in a hope to de-escalate. He wasn’t a very good liar, nor did he enjoy it, but what other options were there to stop her advances.

  “Oh my god. Will you stop talking for him and go somewhere else?” she asked with a condescending tone that grew more frustrated by his continued block of her advances.

  “I’m sorry, Jen… He just hasn't been super talkative tonight.” Baron winced as he spoke - this wasn’t going well at all. It was getting more confrontational than he tended to enjoy, but he couldn’t allow himself to fail. In times like this, Baron wished he could channel that steadfastness he found as Spriggan. But he never could as Baron.

  “Ugh.” Jen groaned dramatically, evidently frustrated. “Honestly, you’re so fucking annoying, Baron,” she said with a venomous ire. Although Baron wouldn’t call Jen his friend, those words cut deeper than he wanted to admit. It was a grating term he had grown sadly familiar with.

  “O-oh. I’m sorry…” I knew that coming was a mistake. He lowered his head, unable to meet her challenging gaze. She was Noncognizant and her frame was smaller than Baron's, but she imposed herself over him all the same. It made him feel smaller than he already did.

  “Whatever. I’ll just be back when he decides to stop babysitting you.” Off in a huff, Jen left Baron with his head hung lower than when they entered.

  Without words, Abel offered his hand out to dap up Baron. A quick, crisp handshake Abel taught him when they first started to become friends. “You’re doing great.” The encouragement lifted his spirits enough to fight against Jen’s negative words, but not nearly enough to wash them from his mind.

  “What had you so preoccupied during my verbal beating there?” Baron was a bit annoyed by the lone whipping he took. He was sure that he already knew the answer.

  Abel nodded toward an open area over the party. “Spirit of gluttony. It's hanging in the air over there.” Baron followed his gaze, where he imagined the specter that remained unseen to him. While he could read the auras of people when he activated his Bloodline Manifest, it didn’t allow him to see the paranormal like Abel’s own Manifest.

  However, Abel tended to sketch out what he saw into his artbook, and they almost always exceeded the expectations of Baron’s own limited imagination.

  “Think it’s a friend of Jen’s?” That was kind of rude… A guilty feeling made him gross as he tried to cheer himself up with a joke at Jen’s expense.

  Without pulling his attention from the spirit, Abel shook his head. “It nested here a while ago.” Abel tended to be correct on these matters. And who was I to question the guy who’d been able to see dead people since his childhood?

  “Should we be worried about that?” The concern settled on Baron for the room of Noncognizants - those ignorant to the supernatural world that they were both vulnerable to and guarded from.

  “Nah, it's mostly harmless,” Abel said as he seemed to shrug Baron’s concern off with his calm, unchanging demeanor, but that wasn’t very relieving. Baron knew that he’d react that way to almost everything, even the one time they almost crashed his car.

  “It doesn’t, like, make people in the area greedier or more selfish?” Baron asked, unsatisfied with his original response and ignorant to the its’ capabilities.

  “Not really.” He shook his head. “It’s only drawn to those emotions, it's really no threat.” He chose to believe him this time, and tried to relax in his seat. It wasn’t like there was much he could do about it anyways.

  “Well, I guess that’s a relief…” Someone took Baron’s attention. It made him trail off as someone approached them. The stranger was well-dressed with long blonde hair that was swept back. The pair fell silent, careful to not let their conversation of Cognizant affairs be overheard as they were approached.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “So, I hope this isn’t a rude or weird question, but are you two together?” he asked, his eyes drawn to Abel’s bouncy curls and nice jawline. No part of Baron believed that he even glanced over toward him for a moment, and he was seemingly right.

  “Oh no, that’s not rude at all. We aren’–” Unable to finish his sentence, Abel cut him off by intimately slinging his arm around his neck. Traditionally, that sort of contact would have made Baron wildly uncomfortable, but luckily over the school year, he had grown really comfortable with Abel and Dawn. More comfortable than he’d been with any others.

  “Yeah. We’re together.” Cutting him off with his calm, matter of fact, tone, Abel took the lead. Baron knew that he wasn’t the best actor, so he decided it was best to sit silently with a smile and let his more charismatic friend handle this.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. Not at all the vibe I was getting…” Although he seemed a little offended by their refusal, he took the chance to step away from the two.

  Baron really couldn’t help but feel bad for how that played out. It’s not like he had been rude or overly pushy like Jen. For him, it was easy to put himself in his shoes. That sort of rejection was something he was familiar with.

  His arm was removed, and neither had much of a reaction to what happened. It was always odd to Baron how anyone could get so used to receiving attention from people, and their ability to shoot down their feelings so callously. Baron shook his head to distract himself before he got stuck overthinking again.

  “We’ve only been here for…” As Baron drew out the word, he pulled out his phone to check the time, “…30 minutes. And we’re two for two actually!” he said with a thumbs up and a smile; though he was shocked that the ‘hoe-repellent’ initiative had succeeded that well thus far.

  “Good work,” Abel said. Unworried, he began to play on his phone again. Unable to afford the same liberty, Baron stayed on high alert to keep Abel protected.

  Unsurprisingly as he surveyed the floor, Baron caught a group of girls that pointed out Abel within their circle of friends. It made him sure that he knew what would happen next.Dang it. Be ready.

  One of those girls that talked about them approached. “Hey, how’re you two doing?” Clearly she had been drinking, which was evident from the solo cup and emboldened tone, but it was considerably more tame then the state Jen had been in.

  “We’ve been having fun, how about you,” Baron said with a welcoming smile. While he was pretty sure he knew her intentions, it felt wrong to drive her away until he was sure. What if she just wanted to make friends after all? That would just make him feel like a jerk if she hadn’t actually come for those reasons.

  “Yeah, it’s been a fun party, hasn't it?” She seemed cool. Maybe she really hadn’t come with ulterior motives, he began to believe.

  Again, Abel was distracted by the paranormal world - at least that’s what Baron always assumed when he seemed to be in one of his dissociative states.

  “So…” she said, something to break the silence. “My friend thinks that he’s super cute. Would it be alright if she got his number?” Oh, she really did come for those exact reasons. Baron confirmed the inevitable. It was a bit disappointing, but he should have expected that. Why else would anyone try to talk to them?

  Without looking at the stranger, Baron shook his head “He doesn’t speak English.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. Abel was bilingual. It still made Baron feel like a shitty person to alter the truth like that.

  “Really?” There was a pause as she slowly blinked. “I thought we saw him talking to that other guy?” she said, as she looked between the two of them with a suspicious glance.

  “Oh, yeah!” He was a terrible liar. “It was in Spanish! I’m not sure what they were talking about either!” Baron poorly faked a laugh, while he tried his best to act natural. He felt embarrassed because of the obvious dishonesty, or maybe it was the judgmental look she was currently giving him.

  “Oh, yeah… Okay…” Clearly she didn’t buy it. Instead of pushing further on the matter, she decided to return to her friends with a disappointed look. Before Baron could reflect on what happened, Abel stood and offered him a hand to help him rise.

  “Come on, we should go find a new spot.” With Abel’s assistance Baron sprung to his feet to find somewhere new. A spot that was hopefully more private. They navigated through the crowd again, and Baron was sure that if separated from Abel, he’d be swallowed alive by the dancing crowd.

  Baron, while he had been having fun in this new environment, was starting to not feel the best about himself. How could he? While he’d never say he was envious or jealous of his friends, Baron would be lying to himself and others if he said he didn’t think some of that attention would feel nice.

  “Man, what’s your secret?” To not be drowned out by the loud music, Baron raised the volume of his voice as they walked. They found a nice area without many people, where Abel leaned against the wall behind them as Baron stood, rigid.

  “My secret? What do you mean?” Confused by the question, Abel glanced over to Baron, appearing worried for him.

  “How do you get so much attention from everyone?” God, that sounded douchie… Before Abel could respond, Baron cut him off “It sounds kinda gross when I say it out loud, and I’m not saying I want to be some sort of weird, freaky sex icon… It just hasn’t been a confidence booster, not only watching you get hit on all night long, but being referred to as your ‘hoe-repellent’.”

  Quietly, Abel listened with a shrug, which he tended to do over their time as roommates for the past half year.

  “What am I saying? We both know why.” Not only did he believe Abel was cooler than him, but he knew he was more attractive as well. It was obvious why anyone would pick Abel over him; in fact, if given the choice, Baron would also pick Abel over himself.

  “You’re too hard on yourself.” With relaxed arms, Abel tried to reassure him. “You're a good dude and the people that matter recognize that…” He was cut off.

  “Hey, you’re Baron, right?” Surprisingly, Abel was interrupted by a short blonde girl with round rose-gold trimmed glasses ,and bubbly cheeks he found cute. She spoke confidently, but alcohol seemed to have that effect on people he believed.

  Baron glanced toward Abel, who looked at him with raised eyebrows and a subtle smile that made him feel encouraged. He acknowledged his friend’s push forward with an unsure smile, and Baron looked back toward the stranger.

  “Uh yeah, why?” Awkwardly, Baron asked. No part of him was sure how to react. This was the first time someone approached him tonight instead of Abel. In fact not often did people ever approach me. Still, Baron knew that there was no chance a girl would hit on him, but he couldn’t stop his hands from becoming clammy as his body grew hot. Baron’s face noticeably darkened into a deep red as the weight in his stomach threatened to pull him through the floor.

  The feeling made Baron horribly embarrassed. As Spriggan, he fought dangerous criminals in the magical underworld of The Haven. In pathetic contrast, Baron currently struggled to talk to a girl he found pretty.

  “You’re cute.” Around him the world stood still as this unnamed girl spoke those alien words. This was crazy - too crazy. Baron knew he wasn’t cute. At least that's what he often told himself.

  “T-thank you! I actually really appreciate that!” Beads of sweat formed on his brow.

  “Maybe we could go find somewhere quiet to talk?” No way?! Is this happening right now? Baron looked to Abel for guidance, as he was entirely unsure what to do. While he wanted to take this chance, his objective was to guard his friend’s chastity. He couldn’t just abandon him no matter how much he wanted to take this opportunity. That’s just not what a good friend would do in this situation!

  “He’d love to.” Abel cut him off, before he disappeared into the crowd without a farewell.

  “Oh uh... Yeah, I think that sounds good.” Baron tried and failed to sound confident.

  With Baron in tow, she started off for a set of stairs across the hall. “I’m Rose, by the way.” She called back to him as she led him to the second story, where a terrace oversaw the party below. Beside Rose, who leaned against the railing, Baron awkwardly took his spot.

  “Nice meeting you, Rose. I’d uh, introduce myself, but you already knew of me somehow. Which, I’m not sure is a bad thing or not,” Baron said with a nervous laugh. While he wasn't going to ask directly, he was curious how such a cute girl knew him, and why she decided to talk to him out of everyone.

  “It’s not like I’ve heard anything bad!” She looked back toward him with her vibrant blue eyes, before she took a silent moment. “We just have a mutual friend that pointed you out,” Rose said with a captivating smile that seemed unsure of something. However it was too pretty for him to notice.

  Baron did his best to think of who they could both know, but he didn’t have nearly enough to go off, and he was too nervous to ask further. It’s not like I know many people in New York, so it can't be that hard to figure out. Baron thought to himself, and was thankful for the first time in his life over his lack of friends

  Between them, a quietness lingered that cut through the loudness of the music. He did his best to think of something to bring up or say, but his mind was being overrun by thoughts of this girl named Rose.

  “You haven't been drinking, have you? Why is that?” Thankfully, Rose was the one that broke the reticence between them with her delicate voice. Baron found it so very adorable.

  “No, not tonight. I’m not of age yet.” Stiffly, he leaned against the railing as he spoke with an unintentionally innocent tone. She began to giggle at him, and Baron couldn’t help but think that she must have the cutest laugh he'd ever heard.

  “You sound like a weenie,” Rose said playfully, before she continued to adorably laugh at him. Where she stood, she was close enough for her shoulder to rub against his own. The contact was alluring and enchanted him, but it also made him feel a flash of nervous sweat.

  “A weenie?! What?! I’m not a weenie!” Jokingly, Baron protested against her. He knew he was a weenie, but he felt the need to defend himself. What is happening to me right now? Baron questioned himself.

  “Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. I haven't been drinking tonight either.” Now that she mentioned it, he could notice that she hadn’t had a drink and she certainly didn't seem under the influence now that he was talking to her.

  “Then that makes you just as much of a weenie as me.” He accused her, as he looked over her face to gauge Rose’s reaction; most importantly, he took the chance to subtly admire her from afar. It made him feel gross, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Their eyes locked with the passing glance, and Baron couldn’t help but feel his stomach drop with anxiety. He couldn’t maintain that eye contact with her, and it felt like his brain would explode if he tried.

  “Guess that makes us a pair of weenies, huh?” A pair? Those words sent a warm flash through his system that left him enraptured by Rose.

  “I uh, I guess we are,” he said through a goofy grin, which he failed to hide by looking away. “Just a pair of weenies.” A pair. That made him feel a deep heat in his belly. There was nothing Baron wanted more in that moment than for his time as a pair of weenies to never end, and he realized how crazy that was. He only knew this girl for a few minutes now, but he couldn’t help this feeling she gave him.

  “So, what does a weenie like you do outside of a loud party like this?” Rose asked, with what Baron hoped was a flirtatious tone.

  “I’ve…” He needed to think about his next words, careful to not mention himself as Spriggan, or reference the Cognizant world he safely assumed she was unaware of. “Mostly been studying at NYU for Biotechnology, and… I try to volunteer at a friend’s soup kitchen when I have time.” Technically, he tended to do it as Spriggan, but surely it was okay to take some of the credit for his work.

  “That’s really cool!” She sounded genuinely interested as they spoke. He hoped at least, but the thought was enough to make Baron happy. “I’m also going to NYU. Though, I’m certainly a lot less interesting than you.” Impossible.

  “Oh really?” Unable to hide his interest, Baron asked her with a visible excitement. If they went to the same school, it meant maybe, just maybe, they could run into each other in the future. “What have you been going for?” It felt impossible for Baron to hide his interest in her.

  “I’m hoping to graduate and become a teacher. Specifically a special education teacher.” Rose sounded unsure of herself. “Don’t got much more going on other than that.”

  “What are you talking about? That’s super interesting!” Even if he was used to a more magical world, Baron found the beauty in how much good a mundane job like hers could do.

  “You really think so?” She tilted her head to get a good look at his face. It made his face hot with red blush.

  “Yeah, it’s really cool.” While everything seemed to be going well, Baron still worried his habit of being ‘Baron, the hoe-repellent’ didn’t ruin it all. “If you don't mind me asking, what made you want to pursue that in particular?”

  “Well…” She turned against the railing to support her back. “It’s a pretty long story.” She seemed to go back and forth on whether or not she’d open up to him. “But the short version is that back in middle school and high school, the other kids would pick on some of the less fortunate and misunderstood.” The thought seemed to bring her mood down. “It always did make me sad, but I never once did anything to help them…” Evidently saddened by a thought, Rose paused “So, I guess you can call it a bit of a guilty conscience.” She said with a semi-joking tone.

  “It sounds like you're a good person.” Wow. Her story left an impression on Baron that made his infatuation with her grow more than he could ever have expected, and it grew nearly impossible for him to think of anything but her.

  A smile broke the semblance of sadness on her face. “I appreciate that, though I probably overshared there a bit.” With her shoulder brushing against his arm once more they made brief contact again. Accident or not, he hoped it would happen at least one more time.

  What if I ask for her number? The thought suddenly appeared in his mind and made his stomach toss into a disastrous mess of tight knots. Unsure if he could possibly ask someone that question, he stressed over her up saying no. But can I let this stop me? I’ve really been enjoying this time together, and she seems so nice and unique. But can I really do this? That back and forth of Baron’s inner dialogue distracted him from the moment.

  It was silent between the two of them as he thought, and Baron was unsure how to say exactly what he wanted to ask her. The what-ifs ran through his mind, while he wordlessly stared at the pretty features of Rose’s face.

  The idea of using his advantage as a Cognizant ran through his mind at this stressful moment. He knew that he could just activate his Manifest at any point to see where her emotions were at. However, the thought alone left a sour taste in his mouth.

  Regardless, the silent stillness between them had persisted. Neither of them made a move. Even if he was petrified by the thought of her rejection, Baron knew that he needed to say or do something before he missed this opportunity, because he wasn’t entirely sure he’d forgive himself if he did.

  Baron took in a deeply nauseating breath through his nose. It was now or never! “I’m not sure if this is a bit weird. Would it…” He choked on his words, but Baron, for once in his life, didn't want to let the burden of being himself stop him. “Would it be alright if I got your phone number, or maybe your social media if that's alright? But it’s also okay if you don't want to!” Baron cut himself off. He didn’t want to ramble too much.

  Rose remained silent, and those moments of uncertainty felt like they were going to tear Baron’s mind apart or rip his vulnerable heart from his chest.

  “I’m sorry, but I should be honest with you…” A guilty expression formed on her cute face. Before she could say anything more, his heart sank through the floor. I knew this would happen. She probably just wanted to get closer to Abel too. “That friend I mentioned was Jen, and originally… And originally she pushed me to talk to you tonight, so she could talk to Abel alone.” Rose sounded remorseful, but it didn’t change the feeling of his deflation. “I really do think you’re cute, and you seem really sweet.” She was still unable to face him.

  He hadn’t known her for more than this short conversation, but he had really enjoyed it and felt a little betrayed by her. Could he really blame her? Maybe it was because he thought they were enjoying the time they spent together, but that wasn’t her fault. “I’m sorry…”

  Rose cut him off. She must have seen the pained look on Baron’s face. “No, please Baron, I’m the one who’s sorry! I’m not telling you to reject you or hurt you. I probably shouldn't even have said anything, but… You seem so sweet, and you asked for my number, and… and that does make me happy!” As she spoke, Rose peeled her gaze from the floor to fully meet his drab brown eyes. “I just don't want to build something between us based on lies, and you seem like a really, really good guy, so I don't want to see you get hurt because of this or me.”

  Those words made Baron’s heart flutter to life again, but he wasn’t sure what to say. Nothing that rushed through his mind felt right, nor could he find the confidence to speak. Stood there without a word, he stared into her lovely blue eyes and kissable pink lips. Despite the confusion Baron felt, the thought of her being the prettiest girl in the world still sat at the forefront of his mind.

  While they made him a little awkward, Baron hoped these feelings would never end. They were daunting, but to be engulfed and dance with them was all he desired.

  “That doesn’t change your mind, does it?” Through his silent admiration of her, Rose finally spoke.

  “Is that what you want?” Baron asked. Still, he was too scared to say what he wanted first.

  “No! I really do want to get to know you better,” Rose answered with an infectious smile that formed at the edges of her lips.

  “Then…” As he spoke, Baron grabbed his phone for Rose. “Maybe we can get lunch after class sometime?” It made him nervous to ask. Even if he almost felt confident in her answer, he could never tell what could go wrong from himself.

  “I’d enjoy that a lot.” Into his phone, she typed in her contact information with a cute smile. It was perfectly complimented with gleeful dimples that highlighted her blue eyes and other soft features. She made his heart skip a beat. “How about I make this all up to you… First, let me apologize for Jen. She’s really not a bad person. She’s just been a little out of control,” Rose said with an embarrassed look on her face. “I’ll make sure to keep her distracted tonight, so that you guys can enjoy yourselves.” After she spoke, Rose handed his phone back. He put his phone back into his pocket, before she began for the stairs.

  Before Baron could process what happened, he was led back to the first floor by Rose, where it would have taken some time to find them in the crowded room; if not for the, impossible to notice, activation of Baron’s Manifest. This allowed him to track down his friends' presence, where he found not only Abel, but also Jen.

  Where she forced herself into his personal space, as she talked about something unheard by them. Stood unreactive, Abel waited with little emotion on his face, or at least that’s what it looked like to others. Baron could not only see the discomfort and panic in his eyes, but he could visualize their emotions with his Manifest; Intent’s Confession. It allowed him to see his distress as a yellow aura of unease that was overtaken by Jen’s own overbearing presence of hot red plumes.

  He needs me. The two of them increased their pace to get there, but he wasn’t good at pushing through the crowd like Dawn, nor could he slip through the spaces people created for him like Abel. It slowed the two and threatened to separate them, until Rose suddenly took hold of Baron’s hand. Her hand gripped tightly with her soft skin that pressed against his own. The warmness of her touch made his hands clammy, while his mind raced with thoughts of her.

  While Baron couldn’t do the things Abel or Dawn were able to do, he could do one thing. Baron focused his magical ability on the crowd, to read the spiraling cloud of emotions that mixed together to form new colors that swirled together like twisted towers of smoke. It would have been overwhelming, if not for the strength he found from her hand's embrace.

  Not only did this allow him to read the general vibe of the mob, it made it possible to predict the ebb of the room for Baron to maneuver through. He gripped tightly on Rose’s hand, nervous that she’d notice how sweaty his hands had gotten as he led her forward. Please stop sweating, body! She’ll think I’m a weirdo otherwise.

  After a short struggle, Baron, with Rose in hand, got through the crowd to Abel and Jen. Toward her friend, Rose stepped forward and removed her hand from Baron’s own to place it gently on her shoulder. “Hey Jen, Baron said they have to get going.” The warmth that lingered on his moist hands made Baron wish she had never let go.

  Jen clumsily turned her body to face Rose. “Rose! I’ve got so much tea for you!” With a euphoric smile, threw her arms around her for a hug. He watched as Abel took this chance to pivot past her blind spot to reclaim his position by Baron’s side, where he greeted him with a crisp dap.

  “Let’s go to your room then and get a little privacy.” She began to lead Jen, who struggled to walk and stumbled against Rose’s aid, to what he assumed was a more private area of the house. He really didn’t want her to go.

  At the same time, Dawn appeared from the crowd to throw her arm around Abel. She had a lazy smile with red eyes that struggled to part open. “Havin’ fun, boys?” Her breath reeked of shots mixed with weed, but she didn’t seem to be a liability yet.

  The world around him faded as his attention was captured by Rose, who slowly walked away from him. He felt as though the chances of ever seeing her again were less and less likely with each step that increased the distance between the two.

  His two friends tried to get his attention, but he couldn’t hear them. All he could think about was how sad he’d be when she didn’t end up contacting him. Why would she anyway? I’m just some lame dude she met at a party. But he didn’t blame her, nor did he think she would be a bad person because of it. He just couldn’t help but feel this warm affection for her, and that wasn’t anyone’s fault but his own. They were strangers and he knew he was the crazy one for catching feelings for someone he just met. But even if he told himself these things, he couldn’t help but feel sad.

  “Baron,” Rose called out with her lovely smile he couldn't ever get enough of. Just like that, his disappointment fluttered into anticipation. “I’ll call you tomorrow!” she waved to him, before turning the corner to exit his line of sight.

  Rose left him there in a trance. With a smile from ear to ear and a starry look in his eyes. Baron ran her words through his head again. Already he was excited about when he’d get to call her. This may be the single best day of my life.

  It took a moment, but he began to break free from her hypnotic charm; even if he never wanted to. Finally, Baron turned toward his friends, while unknowingly beaming like an idiot. Dawn stood there processing what happened with Abel, who had a proud smile.

  “Wait… what just happened?!” The shock of the situation parted Dawn’s eyes from their slothish state. “Baron? My boy? Did that just happen?” she spoke excitedly, with a slur that was starting to form. “Stop standing there cheesing and give us some details!” They both took turns dapping him up, before they found a spot to sit as a group.

  “Well…” Baron struggled. How could he articulate what had just happened to him? That was maybe the most fantastic thing to ever happen to him. “I think I found a girl that may like me!” Saying it out loud made him smile like an idiot again, before he began to tell the details of his incredible time.