“What, like this?” And just like that her free hand was lifted and among the fingers danced little flames that whirled higher and higher until there was a column of fire in her palm that winked out the moment she snapped her fingers closed. “Or maybe I should do it the other way … ” Summer’s green eyes went slightly unfocused. “It’s not entirely a front, this cheerfulness. You’ve lived it so long, it is real … but there’s things under there you’ve covered up, things nobody sees, hurts and slights and put-aside dreams … there’s still that little voice back there whispering … ” Her gaze clicked back to him.
“These days, if I’m overlooked, it’s because I want to be. I know my own worth. And now that I’ve rummaged around in your soul, why don’t we get something to drink?”
Tom watched the flame with an intense stare, and then watched the young woman. He had his concerns about her, and felt a wariness towards her stability but he also felt sad for her. Not pity, he never pitied anyone because that was a terrible thing to do but he felt sadness for her. “When we hide who we are, even for others, we are living a lie. To fall into cheerfulness because you’ve feigned it so much is like a child believing he is an astronaut because he’s pretended he was one for so long.”
“I will go to drink with you, but I can’t stay long. My boyfriend is waiting for me at home, and he’s not one who likes to be kept waiting.” Tom smiles at her although he believes it is not his happiest smile. This girl has been hurt more than she should have been, and he wonders if she’s ever let anyone help her before.
Summer is torn between laughing and crying. He’s got so much of it right, for so many wrong reasons, it’s an effort not to correct him. But if he doesn’t want to see what she is … well, truly told, that’s not her concern. World like theirs, maybe it is easier to just wish away some of the strangeness.
“Boyfriend, huh? A lot of girls’ hearts would be broken to know that. Better if I let you go, then? You’re a bit impatient to get back yourself.”