After a totally embarrassing first week back at school, I couldn't bear to spend Saturday afternoon in the empty apartment. I made sure my oPod shuffle was fully charged, clipped it to one of my belt loops, and put my wireless earbuds in. A walk in the autumn sunshine was just what the doctor ordered.
Walking across the Pont des Arts, I could hear music. Luka was sitting on the edge of the canal, strumming his guitar absentmindedly. A girl with purple streaks in her bangs was sitting with him. She was really pretty and matched Luka's vibe. Were they on a date?
Not wanting to face the possibility, I turned the opposite way, which would take me towards Trocadero. The girl that had been with Luka passed me from behind, muttering something I didn't catch. She was clearly in a rush.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to find Luka just behind my shoulder, nudging him slightly as I reached up to pull out one of my earbuds.
"Hi Prunelle."
"Oh, hey Luka. I didn't bother you and that girl, did I?"
"No, Juleka had to go to a race between her classmates. Something about dares, I guess?"
"Shouldn't you go too?"
"Why would I go? I don't know her classmates."
"Wait, so she doesn't go to our school?"
Luka chuckled. "Juleka is my sister, the one I told you was in the grade below mine."
"Oh, really? She doesn't look much like you."
"We get that a lot, even though we're twins."
"Wait, you're twins?"
He shrugged. "She had some trouble one year and had to repeat. I didn't."
"I see. What are you doing at the Pont des Arts, anyway?"
"Writing music. It's an inspiring place."
"Does the song you're working on have a name?"
"It's not that kind of song. Come sit with me, and I'll show you."
We sat down by the bridge, me leaning against the rail, him sitting in front of me with his guitar. His feet dangled into the canal, just shy of the water.
"Remember how you told me you were lonely? I've been working on this for you."
He strummed a lively tune that immediately brought a smile to my face. I let one leg drape over the edge of the canal, tapping against the side so it would light up as I bobbed my head along. Luka stopped suddenly.
"I don't know how to finish it yet."
"I think it's great so far. You wrote it for me?"
"I don't like thinking of you being lonely."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize for how you feel. What I meant was that I don't want you to feel sad. I wanted to do something to help. Music is all I'm good at."
"You're good at a lot more than music, Luka. You're kind, calm, empathetic, and generous. Those traits are important. They're some of the things that make me like you so much."
"You like me?"
Realizing what that sounded like, I stammered out, "Like you? Duh. I mean, we're friends, right? We wouldn't be friends if I didn't like you."
Luka smiled softly, but there was a strange look in his eyes. "I'm glad you consider me your friend, Prunelle. I want to tell you-"
His phone went off, and he looked concerned when he checked the text message.
"Sorry, I need to go. One of Juleka's classmates just got turned back from being a supervillain, and Jul is pretty shaken up. I'll finish the song soon, and I'll make sure to send you a recording of it."
He took a couple of steps before he stopped to consider something. "Do you want to come with me? Juleka could use a friend like you."
"I don't know much about this supervillain stuff and I can't possibly comfort her the way you can. She'll probably be more uncomfortable with me there."
"Jul is really shy and introverted, like you. You have a lot in common. Humor me?"
"O-Okay," I managed as he grabbed my hand and pulled me along after him.
Luka didn't let go as we walked a block along the canal in silence. He must have sensed my anxiety because he started up further conversation.
"What does your mom do?"
"She works in a warehouse, loading and unloading trucks."
"What do you do on your own so much of the time?"
"The same stuff most teenagers do in their rooms, I guess. The only difference is I'm normally in my living room instead."
"What is it like when you get to spend time with your mom?"
"We make the most of every minute. Sometimes all she feels up to is binge watching some tv and scarfing down cannoli together. The days when we go out are probably my favorites. We don't normally have the money to do anything special, but even the most mundane things are fun with Mom."
"Even grocery shopping?"
"Especially grocery shopping."
"I can't imagine a fun grocery shopping trip."
"Maybe you can tag along one of these days."
"That does sound fun."
I was glad he was walking in front of me, because my cheeks were on fire. He turned abruptly to go down a ramp, at the foot of which a boat was moored. A sign on the mast proudly proclaimed the ship was named Liberty.
"What is this place?" I wondered, my feet skidding to a stop halfway down the ramp. Luka lost his grip on my hand.
"This is where I live. My mom is kind of a free spirit. Juleka should be down in our room."
"But this is a boat."
"Do you get seasick?"
"I don't think I've been on a boat before."
"If you start to feel unwell, let me know."
"How do you live on a boat?"
"The same way you live in an apartment, I suppose."
"Can it move?"
He giggled. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be able to move?"
"I don't appreciate being made fun of, Luka."
"Sorry. I only meant to tease you."
He led the way over the gangplank and below deck. It was a chaotic mess everywhere I looked on the ship. The halls between rooms were claustrophobically small. Luka led me to the second door on the right, which opened to a moderate space divided in two in every way, down to the wallpaper. Luka's side was minimalistic. Juleka was sitting at a desk on her side, writing in a diary. She snapped it shut when she noticed Luka wasn't alone.
"Feeling any better now that you're home, Jul?"
"Yeah, I guess," she murmured. If not for the surprising lack of noise on the ship, I wouldn't have been able to make out the words.
"You remember me telling you about my friend Prunelle, right? The first year...with the cool shoes?"
"Yeah, but why'd you bring her here?"
"Pardon my intrusion, Juleka. Luka seems to think we have a lot in common, that's all. I can go if you like."
"That's not what I meant."
"I can't believe the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of me is my light up shoes!" I hissed at Luka.
"Uh, yeah, that's not the..." she wavered in and out of a volume I could hear her at, "he thinks, like, at all. He actually...a lot...and it's been...so yeah."
"What Jul is trying to say is that isn't the first thing I think of, just one of the more unique."
"I don't get why everyone always makes fun of my shoes. It makes me happy to watch them. Why mock me for a simple joy?"
"I think they're cool," Juleka spoke up.
"You don't have to lie to make me feel welcome."
"But they're awesome. Just like you. My brother was right."
"Right about what?"
"Being around you makes people happy. Your good nature and muchness rubs off."
"I'm an anxiety riddled, klutzy mess. My mere presence causes problems, not happiness."
Juleka smiled sweetly at Luka and nodded her head rather than say anything. Luka started strumming the same song on his guitar as before. For the first time in a long time, a routine started taking shape in my mind.
I couldn't help interrupting to ask, "Are you in a band? Do you have any songs recorded or anything?"
Luka set a hand on the guitar strings to silence them. "I've never thought about being in a band before. I don't think I've recorded anything before, either. Songs I've written for my mom or sister, they ask me to play when they want to listen."
"Sorry for interrupting. Would you start from the beginning again?"
The tune began again, a full skate taking shape in my mind to it. If only I had the confidence to control my magic on the ice...