Twelve

Bobby

I'd finished the print job Dad had given me and printed off a few extras to show Cole. I wasn't exactly sure why, but I wanted to show him. It wasn't anything special, just an old-fashioned carnival. The kind that typically showed up in every small town down the interstate all summer long. Dad had researched the strange line that Cole and I both somehow now knew but didn't find out much about it.

"It's something the sun does when it's setting, or sometimes when it's rising over water. I doubt that has anything to do with this," he said.

"No, I don't think so either. I'm meeting Cole soon, and I want to ask if we can speak with his mother because I would bet she knows more."

"Just be careful, son. You don't know these people, and I don't want to see something happen to you." His eyes were filled with worry, and he squeezed my shoulder. I appreciated his concern, and the fact he didn't try to talk me out of going, just cautioned me.

"I will. His mum was sort of scary. While he was in the shower, she walked into his house and I was waiting for him, and I think she thought I had broken in. For a tiny woman she's terrifying." Dad laughed at that and patted me on the back.

"Just be careful."

"I will," I said and finished work for the day.

I took the exit that would take me right into the old town area of Woodland. There were quite a few choices of places to eat down here that weren't the usual restaurant chain places. I found a parking space near where we'd decided to meet at the corner of Elm and Main. After turning off the engine, I sat in silence as the engine creaked and groaned while cooling off.

Closing my eyes I thought of Cole, and how strange it had been earlier. It seemed like a whole other day, or week, that it had all happened, but in reality, it had only been a few short hours ago. Less than a day.

A feeling scratched at my skin. The sensation of electricity crawling up my arm after touching my finger to a wall socket. Yes, I was that kid that had to find out what happened if he shoved a fork into the socket. It did not end well, and I never tried it again. But I remember that sensation. I remembered it like it had happened yesterday.

I opened my eyes to find Cole standing in front of my car, and I would have sworn I could see the blue glow around him. I hurried to where he stood and held my hand out to shake his, but he surprised me by pulling me in for a hug. "You're too important for only a handshake," he whispered in my ear.

I held him close before pulling back just enough to meet his eyes without releasing his arms. "Is everything okay? You're feeling good?" My eyes danced all over him looking for any changes since I'd left him, but he looked the same. If anything, the redness around his abrasions had faded.

"No, I'm fine. Actually, I feel great. How about you?"

I took a step back then and shoved my hands in my pockets. "Yeah, I'm good. Just still really confused about what happened. But I'm so glad you're okay. I was worried you would cancel, or you'd tell me you were not doing as well as you had been." The words rushed out of me but all of them were true, and Cole made me want to be honest and open with him. We'd shared something strange that not many people had even seen or experienced, and I guessed that was what bonded us.

"I wouldn't have cancelled. I've been thinking about you all afternoon," he said as we crossed the street, making me smile and release some of the tension I hadn't realized I was carrying.

"My dad googled the blue flash thing but didn't find out anything," I said.

"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier." He gave me a questioning look and I knew I was rambling nonsense.

"Sorry."

Cole stopped walking and rested his hand on my arm. "Nothing about this is normal. I kept waiting for either lighting to strike me or for my heart to stop beating. I looked up what happens when you're struck by lightning, and I really fucking wish I could forget what I read."

He was so vulnerable, and so willing to admit his fears and challenges. I hadn't met anyone like him before, and I hoped we would last longer than tonight, but I wasn't confident we had enough in common to make it past dinner. Both of us were uncomfortable, and between the few words we spoke the silence stretched out for miles.

"Let's try this place," Cole suggested. It was an old-fashioned café that had been here for as long as I can remember. It served typical café food with the dinner combinations of a main dish with two sides, salads, and lots of sandwiches. We walked in and immediately I felt comfortable.

"Good choice," I said and finally met his eyes. We were told to choose a seat so we walked back to the corner where we could talk without everyone listening. It was still a small town and people loved their gossip.

We both picked up the menus that were already on the table and chatted about what we'd choose. Some of the discomfort I'd felt earlier started to fade, and it started to feel more like a first date than two people meeting to talk about a shared experience. I still wasn't sure how I felt about Cole. He was nice enough, but it bothered me that he was so calm about everything, and his mother—she definitely knew more.

"Bobby? What did you want?" Cole said. The waiter had walked over to take our order and I hadn't even noticed.

"Sorry, I'll have the chicken fried steak." After Cole ordered we were once again alone, and just like earlier, conversation failed us. His hand rested on top of the table and brushed closer to mine when he shifted in his chair.

Blue sparks flew from his fingers to mine. Not a lot, but just enough for me to see, and for both of us to feel. My eyes met his and I knew we'd need to figure this out. We might suck at trying to get to know each other, but something wanted us to figure it out, and it didn't seem ready to give up on us just yet.