#melinda vinter

The inevitable happens, as it always do when they mix: Temporarily and purposefully, Melinda forgets her boyfriend and Raven forgets her lovesick brother. Every kiss is naïve and innocent in practice, but not in theory.

Outside, the polar lights fill the sky.

"So you’re special,” Melinda smiles. “Though I already knew that.”

“Seems that way,” Raven beams. “But that’s sort of the problem. Remember our promise about you and Bruno?”

“The one you almost broke today?”

“Well, yes—that’s not the point. The point is, my dad is equally likely to kill me for telling you about this as your dad is to kill you about dating me.”

Melinda wrinkles her nose. “We might not have the best fathers.”

“He’s just looking out for me,” Raven snaps. “Simnation hasn’t had the best track record with non-humans. So keeping this a secret is, you know, kind of crucial”

“I didn’t think we had any track record with, um, non-humans. Sorry. I didn’t mean to be so blasé. I won’t tell anyone, promise.”

“Thank you,” Raven exhales.

“I was thinking, by the way,” Melinda kicks at the ground, “about that promise. Maybe it isn’t such a huge deal if Bruno or my dad find out.”

“What do you mean?”

“I broke up with him,” she says. “Right before coming over. It just dawned on me—nothing about him makes me happy, and he was such a wimp about it all.”

“You broke up with him because he has a glass jaw?”

“No,” Melinda laughs, “I broke up with him because he’s—he’s dull. Flat. Just nothing. You’re so bright, and even when you punched him, he didn’t capture any of that light.”

“That’s one way to put it, I guess.”

“Hey, can you fly?”

Raven rolls her eyes. “Barely. It’s a little unfair, actually.”

The night grows darker and colder, and at 10:50 PM a beep interrupts them. Raven pulls her phone out of her pocket. “My dad,” she frowns. “I gotta get home.”

“I should go, too,” Melinda says as she grabs Raven’s hands. “Thank you.”

“For?”

Raven doesn’t get her answer.

“I’m never nice. Just honest.”

“Then tell me something honest.”

“You look better without makeup.”

Melinda scoffs.

“I’m serious! But, I mean, that’s not like to shame you or whatever.”

“Shame me?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m saying I know that you wear makeup for you and not for me and that’s your choice and—”

“You’re adorable when you’re flustered.”

“Flustered?” Raven sits up.

“Really? That’s the adjective you decided to focus on?”

Raven smirks. “Well I know I’m adorable. I object to being described as anything other than steely, though.”

“Sure,” Melinda rolls her eyes. “Either way, you’re adorable.”

The sun sets on Aurora Skies, and Raven worries from her perch in the fort.

She had expected an immediate response from Melinda, acknowledgment that her devotion is endearing and not concerning. But it takes nearly an hour for the girl to respond, reluctantly agreeing to meet Raven at the playground. By then, the sun has dipped below the coastline, and the moon has risen over the mountain.

“Aren’t you cute,” Melinda’s voice barely carries to the fort. “You playing make-believe up there?”

“Thanks for coming,” Raven calls down.

“I almost didn’t.”

“What made you change your mind?”

Melinda cocks her head. “I had to find out.”

“Find out what?”

“What you are,” she says. Raven smiles but doesn’t answer, so Melinda continues. “It hit me, when you did whatever that was to Albert: you’re not human, and I can’t believe I never noticed.”

“I can’t either,” she says before sliding down the play fort’s pole to the ground.

Their sharp voices capture Bruno’s attention. “Hey,” he looks over his shoulder, basketball in hand. “Is something wrong, Mel?”

“Raven and I are just talking.”

“About you,” Raven snaps.

Bruno’s eyebrow quirks. “Do I know you?”

“Doesn’t matter. I know you,” she says, “and what you said to Melinda.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Raven,” Melinda pleads, “Stop! Forget everything I told you, okay? You’re acting like an idiot.”

The court has quieted, all eyes turned to Raven and Bruno.

“What’s this?” Bjorn crosses his arms.

“Nothing good,” Jane exhales. “Raven knows better than to cast in public, right?”

“I hope so,” he replies.

In the moment, Raven does have enough sense to keep her magic to herself. She’s been trained since toddlerhood to hide that part of her—her father even went far enough to provide her with an enchantment so to most people, she looks human: wingless and dull.

I’ll help you,” Melinda slides off her seat. She grabs the chains of Raven’s swing and take a few steps backward before letting go. Then she pushes Raven’s back, propelling her into an upward arc. “I don’t think this will help,” Raven laughs as she swings, her feet kicking toward the stars. “Not with that attitude.” 

They settle onto nearby swings, close enough together that they can talk, but far enough apart that Raven can avoid eye contact. “So have you always been like this?” “Gay? I think so.” “No,” Melinda pauses before whispering the word, “magic.” “Oh, that. Yep, one hundred percent born this way.” “Why have I never noticed your wings until today?” Raven shrugs. “My dad would have to explain that to you. I’m not sure how the spell works.”   “Spell? Is he a, um, a— “ “Fairy? No. I’d be willing to be I’m the only one on the island, possibly this sector.”