Wish - H.R. Davison (best books to read TXT) 📗

anyone has actually seen DJ was during the fight after school. A fight he got into because of me and my stupid jealousy. I have called him at least a thousand times, and left half as many voicemails, still nothing. That is why I am surprised to see him sitting on my front porch when I get home from spending the afternoon with Lilli. I sit in the car for a moment collecting my thoughts as I stare at the top of his dark head. His elbows pressed on each thigh, with his face resting in his hands, portraying the epitome of misery.

 

Where has he been? Why is he back now? Was everything he ever said just a ploy for me to become another notch on his belt? I guess there is only one way to find out.

 

I get out of my car, slamming the door loudly to announce my arrival. He looks up at me as I approach, his dark eyes full of sadness. Faint bruises shadow across his upturned face. When I see his bruised face I lose all the anger I have been building up since last week. Rushing to him, I collapse on the porch steps next to him. Taking his hand gently in mine I ask him “What happened? Where have you been?”

 

I hold his hand in my lap and his fingers curls around mine. He lifts his other hand, brushing a stray hair from my face. His voice croaks as if he hasn’t used it in a long time. “Kat, oh my God, you are so beautiful.”

 

I feel my internal heat rising, starting in my stomach and spreading through my whole body making my fingers and toes tingle. How can one boy make me feel so alive with just a few simple words? “You didn’t answer me DJ. Where have you been?”

 

“We need to talk.” Moving gently as if he is in a lot of pain he stands up slowly, bracing his lower back with his hands. “Can we go inside? It might take a while to say everything I need to tell you.” I lead the way in the house interested to hear what he has to say. Did he come here to break up with me? I mean are we even dating? It is never good news when someone says “we need to talk”.

 

Nervous butterflies race in my stomach, with determination I push them back down, if he wants to break up then fine. I don’t need the drama. I stomp into the house and throw my things on the floor. With heavy steps I make my way to the sofa, dropping down on the cushion with an annoyed sigh. All the anger from before comes rushing back to the surface, crossing my arms in defiance I order him, “Talk.”

 

He gently lowers down on the couch. Once he is positioned comfortably he takes my hand in his. “Kat, I have a crazy story to tell you, but first I need to start with whom and what I really am.” I snatch my hand out of his grasp. I am not going to make this easy for him.

 

DJ talks for a long time as I sit immobile stunned into silence.

 

He must have escaped from a mental institution. That is why he has been gone for over a week. His psyche finally snapped and his parents had him committed to the loony bin. That is the only plausible explanation I can come up with to his exaggerated claim. He really thinks he is some kind of wish granting Djinn? Always Djinn, never genie, he actually spelled it out for me so I would know.

 

He tells me a tale of how his family is one of ten that were set free by some great and powerful person named Armaros. Explaining to me how his magic works, he only has to think of what he wants and it happens. According to him that is how he saved the vase from shattering on the floor the day of our date.

 

He clarifies that a free Djinn is never required to grant a wish unless the person asking knows the Djinn’s true name. He finishes his fable with a flourish, describing a bar fight with a troll in a fairy tale world. He had to pay for the damages of the fight by working in a mine for a week.

 

I don’t know what to say. I look at his handsome face, his tan skin flawless from any blemish, chiseled cheekbones highlighting his stormy eyes framed with long feathery lashes. How could this boy that is devastatingly handsome be insane? It is criminal.

 

Silence grows between us as I continue to stare at him open mouthed. Not knowing what to say to such a fantastic story. “You don’t believe me.” He states. How could I? What an imagination he must have to come up with all of this.

 

“No… DJ, I don’t.” The sadness I feel for him is so great I can’t contain it.My eyes start to tear up.

 

How lonely he must be, to think he is keeping this big secret from the world, never allowing anyone to get close to him, to know the real him. I want to comfort him, hug him, caress his soft hair in my hands, but I stop myself from reaching out. It would be cruel to give him the wrong idea. Instead I sit there with a blank face, unable to stop the silent tears tracking down my cheeks to my parted lips, the bitter salt taste pooling in the corners of my mouth.

 

“How can I prove it to you?” He asks me, his somber eyes pleading with me voicelessly. I don’t know what to say. How can he prove it to me? I can tell he honestly believes what he has told me. He truly thinks he is a magical being that can travel between mystical realms granting wishes to strangers that happen to guess his true name.

 

How crazy is this situation? Should I make a wish? Can I wish for anything, will he grant it? Is DJ his true name? All these questions run through my head as I sit there speechless; anguish spreading across his face at my lack of a reply. I finally manage to mumble out an answer, deciding to play along with this farce, at least for a while. “W-what should I wish for?”

 

“Anything you want.” DJ says a grin breaking out across his face, making his dark eyes twinkle. For a brief moment he is the same DJ I met the first day of school, minus the cocky attitude. “Are you hungry? Want some pizza?” At the mention of food my stomach lets a rumble, answering for me. DJ’s smile widens, I hear a popping noise in the air sounding like a lone popcorn kernel exploding into a fluffy treat. A white flash explodes from DJ’s hands, momentarily blinding me. When I can see again DJ is holding a steaming pizza, chicken and green peppers, my favorite.

 

It is unbelievable. Was that really magic? “H-how? H-how d-d-did you d-do th-that?” I stammer.

 

The pizza smells so good I reach for a slice expecting it to not really be there. The heat rising off the cheese warms my hand. I grab a slice in between my fingers. Still is disbelief I take a bite. It is delicious, and real, and it wasn’t here a moment ago. I shake my head to clear my thoughts.

 

“I told you Kat. Why do you insist on being so stubborn?” DJ says with a smirk. “Thirsty?” Another popping sound and bright flash later and DJ is holding a slushy.

 

“Dessert?” Pop, flash, and a cupcake appears.

 

“Flowers?” Pop, flash, and flowers decorate the room in every corner. The overwhelming scent of roses invades my nose making me sneeze.

 

“Too much?” Pop, flash, and the flowers disappear.

 

“Wow.” I whisper. Can this really be happening? Have I lost my mind? Has DJ dragged me into his fantasy world, or am I dreaming? This is all too much. I feel like Alice must have when she went through the looking glass. Magic is real? Can it be possible?

 

“Kat…” DJ begins, his face a mask of seriousness, all the humor from before is gone. The fading bruises stand out on his face is stark contrast to the beauty he possesses. “The reason I am telling you this, showing you this.” He emphasizes with his hands, gesturing around the room at the remaining flowers. “Is because I want you to know me, the real me. I can understand if you need time to think. I won’t pressure you.”

 

“DJ...” I start to say as he stands, not knowing I am going to finish that sentence I struggle with the words I want to tell him, that I believe him, but do I believe him? Is this even real? All I know is that I want to see him again. I have to see him again.

 

Good or bad, DJ is now a part of my life, always in my heart. “Will I see you at school tomorrow?” I ask finally standing up to be closer to eye level with him.

 

“DJ rubs the back of his neck with a weary expression of exhaustion on his face. “No, I haven’t even been home yet. My parents are going to be furious with me. I doubt I will be going back to school at all. But you will see me again, soon. I will be in touch.”

 

He draws me in and hugs me tightly, softly caressing my back in a circular motion, sending shivers down my spine. I lean into his chest, wrapping my arms around his torso. He pulls away with a sigh, kissing me gently on the forehead before leaving.

 

After DJ is gone I am so exhausted I head straight to bed. Wishing for a dreamless sleep so I can be well rested to think more about this tomorrow, I chuckle to myself. I have my own personal Djinn to grant my wishes. My chuckle turns into full on laughter as I crawl into bed, delirious with sleep.

 

*************

I am sitting at the kitchen table with my mother. In front of me is a turkey sandwich on wheat bread, the crusts cut off of course. I dangle my bare feet, dirty from soil outside, back and forth on the floor. A tall glass of lemonade sits next to my plate, floating with ice cubes and sliced oranges. I reach into the glass removing an orange slice to nibble on. The tangy sweet fruit explodes with flavor in my mouth.

 

“Kathryn.” My mother says from across the table in a stern voice, making me look up sharply. My mother has always reserved her stern voice for when I have done something bad. Eating an orange slice from my lemonade isn’t bad, is it?

 

“What mommy?” I ask meekly, hoping I am not in trouble for something. Have I done something bad? I don’t want my mommy mad at me? Is it my dirty feet? I took my shoes off before entering the house.

 

“Listen to me, this is important.” My mother says with a weary expression, her voice cracking. “This will be the last time I visit in a dream. The end is close for me, I can feel it. Armaros will not let me live once I have completed the lost text.”

 

She stands to walk around to me, rubbing her hand down my hair smooth it close to my scalp she continues, “Go to Andy, he will explain more. Remember Kat, I love you, always.”

 

*************

 

My alarm clock blares to life, waking me abruptly from the dream.

 

I am so confused. What does my mom have to do with Andy? I rub my eyes in attempt to focus. Everything in my life is always such a mess. Why can’t I just be a normal teenager, with normal teenage problems?

 

My mom told me to go to Andy, I only know one Andy, my nerdy friend with the unhealthy obsession of pocket