Unforgettable
Calypso High
Series Two, Episode Two


      "Hey, Mari!"
      "Hi, Mari!"
      "Yo, DeSka!"
      Marianna DeSka rolled her eyes in disbelief as she walked down the hall of Layla:) PHS. SInce when had she gotten so popular? And it did seem to be popularity, not fear like the last few years after the Wizarding fiascoes.
      "Mari! Mari!"
      But now wasn't the time to wonder-- or to bask-- as she was supposed to be half a building away for Calculus, and only had a minute left to get there. She picked up the pace.
      "Mari, slow down!" Cueball, a fro-wearing crew jock, certified genius, and close friend of Mari's, drew up next to her. "You're not that late."
      "Oh, sorry," she said, frowning. "I thought you were one of my adoring fans."
      "That, too," he agreed, "but actually I wanted to ask you how you did on the homework."
      "Please don't," she grimaced.
      "That bad?"
      "Well, I did all the problems... but it took me two hours and I have no idea if any of the answers are right."
      "Only two hours? I spent three, and I only got through half!" Cueball was stunned.
      "But your answers are probably right," Mari pointed out, as they arrived, on the bell, at their classroom.
      "They are. The answers are in the back of the book, you know."
      "I know, but I had to write an essay for English before bedtime, so Calc got put aside. And I didn't have time this morning for anything, what with two sisters to get to school."
      "And how long did Dani take in the bathroom this morning?" Cueball asked, laughing.
      Dr. Dee, the Calc teacher, started the lecture with a quelling glance at the two of them, so Mari just stuck her tongue out in response.
      Calc was another one of those long, dragging class periods, although Mari did have the pleasant surprise of a 75-percent success rate on the homework problems. Still, she could already tell, in the second week of classes, she would need her class participation points just to pass the course. And Mari was definitely relieved when the bell rang and she could flee outdoors, to the patch of cement outside the gym where she and her clique had lunch.
      Doreen Flagg was already there when Mari arrived, and already becoming well-rounded in her second month of pregnancy. She was stuffing her face with a high-fat cafeteria salad, remarking to Frogman that, "It's twins again. How annoying is that? As if one isn't enough!"
      Frogman, presumed to be the father of said twins, was barely listening to Doreen's uncharacteristic, hormone-induced rant, as he leapt about the practice fields in search of insect nourishment.
      Apparently, Mari was the only one who still found that creepy, as the others gathering for lunch merely called hello to the amphibious weirdo and sat down to their own meals. Most everyone also had a textbook open on his or her lap.
      Dream Driad was doing some complicated-looking physics. A small group including Cueball and his sort-of girlfriend Tianne were working on a Shakespeare play. Suki Kyoko was sketching something, so Mari wandered over, veggie wrap in hand, to see what it was.
      It was a study of Frogman's movements on the field. "Ew," Mari commented.
      "Thanks," Suki said, glancing up.
      "I meant the subject, not the drawing."
      "I thought so. What are you doing after school today?"
      "Why?"
      "After the A/V Club meeting, we're going to the airfield for a little... party," Suki giggled. "I'm supposed to find some girls."
      "Oh, no. No way."
      "Don't you like geeks?"
      "As much as the next girl," Mari admitted. "You know I've got a Weezer poster on my wall. But actually, I have plans."
      "Doing what?" Suki (and everyone else in earshot) was very surprised. Since school started, Mari had quit band, quit her job at Pilgrim's Bodega, quit surfing, quit nearly everything except school. She'd put her beloved Beach Boys records in the attic and begun collecting Beatles albums. It seemed she was purging everything she could possibly associate with Blaine Brison, her ex-husband. Including, possibly, the memory of him.
      "Field hockey tryouts," Mari announced. "I've been sitting on my butt for two weeks, and it's about time I blessed this school with my natural athletic ability."
      "You just want to hit stuff with a stick," Suki said.
      "Okay, yeah." Mari grinned widely. "There is a certain... blood-lust I need to sate."
***
      Mari managed to prove that many times over that afternoon while scrimmaging with the JV girls hockey team. After her fourth goal in less than ten minutes of play, the coach pulled her out and moved her up to the varsity tryouts.
      "Miss DeSka, I've never seen anyone play with such passion-- at least, not while also staying within the rules of play," Coach said, shaking her head as Mari scored again. "You should try out for the boys' ice hockey team."
      "I'd have to learn to skate, though," Mari said, barely hiding her disappointment. She grabbed a bottle of water. "And they've got even more padding than this," she said, gesturing at her borrowed shin guards and other safety paraphenalia. "Can't imagine why anyone would need all this get-up, anyway."
      The other girls hobbled off the field, clutching injuries and moaning. Even the ones who'd been on Mari's side were sore.
      "Riiiight," Coach said. "You've made the team, DeSka. The rest of you can check the list on my door on Monday morning. Practice starts immediately after school on Monday. First game is Wednesday night against Newshregsburg. Enjoy the weekend, girls!"
***
      Mari thought for certain she'd sleep well. After tryouts, she'd driven down to the airfield to check out the geek party, said hi to Suki, had a dance with some guy named Davis, then driven home. After dinner with the family, she had a two-mile run with Daniela, played Pong with Pandora, and taken a long, hot shower.
      So why was she lying awake, gazing at the rotating blades of the ceiling fan, at one AM?
      Blaine Jackson Brison.
      At least she wasn't constantly crying anymore. She barely remembered him, actually. Just a little glimpse, a flash of blue eyes, a hint of his aftershave. She wondered what, exactly, she was missing.
      Then, as she'd done so often in the past weeks, she started meditating. She pushed the offending memories deep into her gray matter, where they'd leave her alone long enough to sleep. To get on with the necessities of life.
      Sometimes, it was a curse to have a high psi rating. Sometimes, it was a blessing.
      Sometimes, she didn't know which it was at all.
***
      Saturday afternoon, Mari wandered around downtown looking for something to do. She'd quit her job (it really sucked, and she wondered why she hadn't quit earlier), so she was kind of at loose ends at the moment. Until hockey practices started in earnest, anyway.
      She ducked into a clothing store, Downtown Duds, that she'd shopped at a few times before, but nothing caught her eye. And besides, she didn't have any money. Because she wasn't working.
      Mari halted abruptly on the sidewalk, wondering whether her *brain* was working. The sentences of her internal dialogue were increasingly short and insipid lately. Maybe she needed a mental challenge. She wondered what Davis, the geek from last night, was doing today. Maybe Suki had his number... but Suki was on a field trip to the Newshregsburg Art Colony today.
      "Hey, Mari!" The slightly congested voice jolted Mari awake.
      "Hey... Lynnette... geez, it's been ages."
      Her friend trotted up and glanced in the shop window Mari had been staring at. "Toilets?"
      Mari shook her head. She hadn't even realized she was in front of the plumber's. "Not really. I was just thinking... this guy I met last night."
      "Wow. You move fast."
      "Huh?" Mari was utterly confused, but she figured it was Lyn's fault. It usually was. "Anyway, how's school?"
      "Oh, you know, uniforms, blah blah blah..." Lyn shrugged. "Private school sucks, but at least I don't have to go to LPHS."
      "Thanks for the show of support."
      "Well, all school sucks as a matter of it being school."
      "Yeah. But do you always have to point out that I go to the ghetto school?"
      "Layla:) is hardly a ghetto."
      "Compared to Newshregsburg," Mari started to argue before she realized what she was saying. "Wait a sec. I hate Newshregsburgers."
      "Oh, now I have to thank *you* ever so much," Lyn snorted.
      "You don't count. Somehow, you managed to be sane."
      "Okay. And besides, nothing's worse than those nuts from Le Foret, right?"
      Mari laughed. Half their little clique was from Le Foret. Village politics in Layla:) could get ridiculous sometimes. "So, what are you up to this morning?"
      "Absolutely nothing," Lynette said. "I was so bored I decided to take a walk."
      "Yeah, me too. I was actually hoping to run into someone..."
      "You were sending me psychic vibes!"
      "Shh! Don't say that too loud. You know I'm not supposed to... and even though I didn't... at least not consciously..." Mari glanced around furtively.
      "Sorry. I forgot."
      Mari smiled. "It's okay. Hey, let's get a milkshake or something." She gestured to the ice cream shop across the street.
      "Kind of early, isn't it?"
      "I was up early," Mari shrugged. "Besides, it's milk. It's good for us. Calcium, right?"
      "Right," Lyn grinned.
      They darted between the parked and slow-moving cars crowding Main Street and headed into the ice cream shop. Soon they were settled in a booth, milkshakes in front of them.
      "Mmm, chocolate," Lyn said after a long, satisfying sip.
      "Mmm, pink," Mari said about her strawberry shake, causing Lyn to choke. "Sorry," she snickered.
      Lyn coughed into her napkin for a moment. Then she looked up, gave Mari a long, strange stare, and broke into a huge grin. "I finally figured it out!"
      "What?" Mari asked, startled by the stare, the grin, and the outburst (but mostly disturbed by the grin).
      "You used to wear glasses." She slapped a hand down on the table to punctuate her observation, making their glasses jump. Mari darted out a steadying hand. "It's been nagging me all summer. Whatever happened to the glasses?"
      "Oh," Mari nodded, "Sure. I couldn't wear 'em while I was surfing, but I didn't like being blind on the waves, either. And contacts just were creepy. So I did some research, and I found a Wizarding spell that can temporarily fix my eyes."
      "You... but you're not supposed to do that!" Lyn gasped.
      "Tell me about it. I started when I was ten, actually, before I even got glasses, because I noticed the waves were getting fuzzy. Then, I only did it when I was on the beach. But a few months ago, I figured I might as well do it all the time. So every six hours, I repeat this incantation to myself, and I can see great!"
      Lyn sighed. "I just hope you don't get in trouble for it."
      Mari stared at her friend. "Since when do *you* worry?"
      "Hey, I'm blonde, not insensitive."
      "Oh! I..."
      Lyn laughed. "Joking! It's okay. But, be careful, okay?"
      "Of course," Mari said. "They didn't find the spell during the multiple inquisitions I went under-- yay for mental blocks!-- so I don't think they'll ever find it."
      "Hi Mari!" a voice called. Mari cringed.
      "Who's that?" Lyn asked, darting a glance at the boy coming to join them.
      "Justinian-- he's obsessed with me for some reason. Seems to think I'm famous," Mari whispered, rolling her eyes.
      Justinian sat down next to Mari. "How are you today?" he asked politely.
      "Fine," Mari replied just as politely. "Lyn and I were just finishing our milkshakes--" She glanced at Lyn, hoping her friend would take the hint and quickly suck down the rest of her shake, ice cream headaches be damned-- "and then we're leaving."
      "Where are you going?"
      "Nowhere." Which, as far as Mari was concerned, was the truth. She had no plans. Lyn probably had no plans, either, unless she'd suddenly gotten a job or a boyfriend. Like, in the last five minutes. Neither was likely to happen in the next five months, so Mari felt safe making assumptions.
      "You can't be going nowhere," Justinian giggled. "Because everywhere you go, there you are!"
      Mari raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well, I do need to get going. You know. Going nowhere fast."
      Justinian giggled again. "From Star Drive!" he exclaimed.
      Mari was stymied. "Please get out of the booth now so I can leave."
      Thankfully, he responded to the direct command, sliding out and letting her past. "Can I help you in any way, Mari? Pay for your shake? Bus fare? Cab fare?"
      "No, I'm fine, thanks," she said as she dug in her pocket for check and tip. "Lyn, c'mon."
      Lyn drank the last dregs of her shake and stood up, pulling out her own money. "Nice to meet you, strange person," she said to Justinian.
      "Same to you," he said cheerfully.
      Mari sighed and dragged Lyn out of the shop.
      "What the heck did he mean by that? Star drive?" Mari muttered.
      Lyn knew the reference to Mari's song, but for some reason she felt the best thing to do right now was just shrug and look as confused as Mari did. It wasn't that hard. She *was* confused. Mari didn't remember her own songs?
      But then, according to Dream and Tianne, whenever someone had mentioned Blaine, the Beach Boys, any of the Family Act's songs, or even the word "marriage" during the past few weeks, Mari had either been totally mystified or had gone into some kind of weird trance. Finally, they'd all just learned to avoid those topics in the interest of keeping conversation going. Lyn supposed she would have to, too.
      Still... she worried about Mari. And it had nothing to do with vision spells.

***