Miyu's Wish (21 page)

“I’ve never even heard of it,” Kimberly added offhandedly, gazing a few feet away into a giant glass globe of gilded goldfish. The tank magnified her face comically as she peered in, her mouth inflating as if she were about to swallow the aquarium whole.

I giggled, but Marlene didn’t seem to appreciate the commentary and stalked off through the door. Sighing, I urged Kimberly over and sent her inside, and then I followed last. Everyone was now stripping off their clothes and fitting into white, one-piece swimsuits. Two beautiful women—looking like movie stars from a classic black-and-white movie—hopped around from girl to girl, assisting them as needed. One of them noticed me and came gliding over.

“You must be Miss Miyu, the party girl,” she said, bending forward and flashing a pleasant smile. “I’m Miss Reed, and over there is Miss Stone. We’re here to serve you and your friends today, so if there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”

I smiled back and glanced at Kimberly and Marlene, who were currently sitting at opposite ends of the room from each
other. Similarly, Lizzie and Mary were hiding in a corner, pulling off their garments with deft uncertainty.

I looked back at Miss Reed. “So, are we all bathing together?”

She shook her head. “Not exactly. The spring is cordoned into sections. We had intended on splitting your party into three groups, but combining everyone is possible. Is that what you prefer?”

“No, actually, your way is perfect,” I said with relief. “But please do me a favor. Place Marlene and Kimberly—the two girls over there and there—and myself, into one group. Then, if you can, place Candace, Janet, Mary, and Liz into another.” I pointed them out, and Miss Reed nodded with an understanding smile. “The other three can, of course, be placed in the final group.” I frowned regretfully at Tamara, for she would be stuck with the hyperactive Twins again, but it couldn’t be helped.

“So, are you ready to begin changing?” she asked.

“What?” I replied, losing my train of thought. “Oh, right.” I shrugged sheepishly and sat down to begin undressing.

Dressed like twins in our white swimsuits, I took Marlene by the hand and led her to the area of the bath we’d be soaking in. She had been cross all morning, but as I coaxed her into the steamy, revitalizing water, even she couldn’t suppress a dreamy smile.

“Mmmm, this does feel nice,” she murmured, gliding across the pool like a swan. She perched herself on a slab of white rock situated in the water, and looked at me with an easy smile.

I smiled in return and slowly sank into the spring’s embrace, allowing the waters to rush up and caress the edges of my face as I lazily found my own stone to perch upon. Everything about the environment felt genuine, and gazing at Marlene, I could almost believe we were under the shade of an exotic wood, restoring ourselves in someone’s ancient, magical fountain. The scent of spearmint and eucalyptus rose from the steamy, bubbly waters, and the sandy bottom beneath my toes was dotted with smooth, black-and-white stones. Colorful plant life dappled the shoreline, while bouquets of flowers floated like buoys around our periphery, effectively separating one section of bathers from another. It was all lovely and surreal.

“I know I’ve been a grouch,” Marlene admitted, looking at me guiltily. “I promised myself I’d behave for you, and I’m sorry. But sitting here in this lovely place, I feel more like myself now.”

I nodded gratefully. “That’s good because—” Before I could finish, a lithe shadow loomed over me. I looked up to see Kimberly’s resplendent figure stepping daintily into the pool, like a woodland goddess coming to bathe. I smiled warmly at her, but an audible grunt from Marlene immediately destroyed my sense of calm.

“Oh, this does feel wonderful,” Kimberly said shyly, looking at me and then giving Marlene a fleeting glance.

“You should sit over there,” I suggested quickly, motioning to an adjacent rock.

Kimberly smiled awkwardly and allowed herself to settle on the large, bench-like boulder, forming a sort of triangle among the three of us. I tried to act like everything was fine, but I sensed dark vibes emanating from Marlene. Her smile had faded into a sort of perturbed glare—directed at me—and I briefly contemplated sinking into the water and never returning.

“So you’re both enjoying yourselves, I hope?” I asked innocently.

Kimberly leaned back on the rock and closed her eyes peacefully. “So far, so good.”

Marlene continued frowning. “I already told you. It’s lovely.” She then closed her own eyes and looked away.

I watched them drearily; both were turned away from each other, and Marlene’s churlish face suggested the spring wasn’t exactly bringing her peace. I fought for something else to say.

“So the Christmas Ball is coming up. Any ideas on who you want to go with?” I glanced back and forth between them.

Kimberly’s eyes flitted open. “I’m not really sure. I guess I had always counted on going with Thad, but…”

I squirmed uneasily; Thad was the last person I wanted to think about. But I tried to allay her fears. “It’s OK, you know, if you still want to go out with him. I meant what I said before.”

She seemed displeased by this and put her nose slightly into the air. “No, we’re through. He’s too strange for either one of us.”

There was a moment of silence, and then Marlene suddenly spoke in a somewhat authoritarian tone. “He’s not weird—just a jerk who wanted to steal a kiss from you and then revel in the glory.”

Kimberly regarded her cautiously. “I don’t know about that, but he is strange. When Miyu resuscitated me that night, he said he saw her change—” She paused, shaking her head bleakly. “Forget it, it’s just too absurd to repeat.” She gazed at me, her cheeks blushing softly, and brought her knees up to her chin. “You never told her?”

I shook my head as I glanced at Marlene. “No, like you said, it’s not worth talking about. There wasn’t really anything to tell, anyway.”

Marlene opened her eyes and shifted herself around, looking disgruntled. “I still would have liked to know, Miyu, even if it was nothing. You
are
my best friend. And you’ve always liked the weird guys, especially that Clarence boy.”

Kimberly leaned forward as I again squirmed uncomfortably in my seat. “Clarence?” she asked. “You mean the plump science geek who always wins all those awards?”

I looked at them obstinately. “Clarence is not a geek, and he’s not fat. He’s even lifting weights now.”

They regarded me dubiously as I stared stubbornly back, and then sighed.

“Alright,” I admitted, biting my lip and looking down at the water. “He
is
a geek. But in a good way. And he’s also very strong and even…kinda…cute.”

I looked up bashfully, feeling as if I had just confessed to committing a serious crime, only to find my friends immediately huddled around me. I emitted a little squeal as I pressed myself against the rock, their faces probing me inquisitively from all angles.

Kimberly looked astounded. “You would consider going to the ball with
him
? But there are plenty of guys you could go with. Anyone you wanted!”

Marlene was right next to her, bobbing her head up and down with an ironic grin. “That’s Miyu for you. Savior of the underdog and dweeb alike.”

“That’s not true, at least in this case!” I protested, leaning forward and sticking my face between theirs. “He’s just a nice, sweet boy, and that’s what I like.” My hands were balled together and shaking furiously under my face, and I knew I was blushing madly.

Kimberly giggled, looking at Marlene. “Isn’t she impossibly adorable?”

Marlene stared at her dubiously for an instant, but then burst forth with her own laughter. “I know! Don’t you just want to squeeze and cuddle her all day?”

Kimberly nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! That’s all I want to do when I’m around her! And she’s so sincere. You just know she’s a real person, through and through!”

“And I love how she bites her lip when she’s nervous. And clenches her hands into little fists!”

“And those precious pouts of hers!”

I watched them, incredulous, as they continued praising my little quirks and mannerisms. “Um, I’m still here,” I murmured, but I realized I was just pouting for attention again. Feeling forgotten, I retreated back against my rock.

Kimberly and Marlene continued laughing, but then a soft, wistful gaze of tenderness suddenly developed between them.

“Marlene…I’m so sorry, you know, for what happened between us,” Kimberly finally said, her face gaunt and forlorn. “I’ve wanted to tell you that for a long time, but it always seemed impossible.”

Marlene simply stared back in shock, her face pale and her eyes now dark and sunken. “It really, really hurt, you know?” she whispered, her voice broken and indistinct. “You were my most cherished friend. My sister, really.” She lurched backward and began crying, her tears evaporating into little tufts of steam as they hit the water. “Oh Kim, how could you just ditch me like that?”

Kimberly looked disgusted with herself, and she watched her friend with imploring, piercing eyes. “I was stupid. I got sucked into those popular circles and just couldn’t pull away.”

They began inching toward each other, tears rolling down both their cheeks and into the water below.

Kimberly shuddered. “Please, Marly. Forgive me. I still consider you the best friend I ever had.”

I watched, at first incredulously, then ecstatically as they both laughed awkwardly and fell into a magical embrace of gentle sobs and tender whimpers. I was overjoyed, and my heart beat a celebratory tune as if something historic had just occurred.
It was like the ending to a poignant fable about friendship and forgiveness, and I felt honored to play a part.

Thank you, God. Thank you.

I watched dreamily for a moment longer and then crept silently out of the pool. I saw Miss Stone approaching with a tray of tiny chocolates and milky-white drinks, and I quickly tiptoed over to stop her.

“Is everything to your liking, Miss Moon?” she asked graciously. “Are your friends enjoying the bath?”

I nodded cheerily.

“Yes, of course. Everything is lovely. But if you could, please wait a moment before bringing them the drinks. They need some time alone.”

The woman smiled as if she understood. “If that’s what you desire.”

I looked past her at the other areas of the spring. Various people were lounging in their own sections, and I wondered where Tamara had been placed.

“Can you tell me where Tamara is soaking? She should be with two short, probably hyperactive, girls.”

Miss Stone couldn’t help but chuckle softly. “I know exactly whom you mean. I’ll show you the way.”

I followed her to the other side of the spring and found Tamara sitting alone, looking comfortable but bored. I thanked Miss Stone and stepped in daintily to join my friend on her perch. She didn’t seem surprised to see me.

“So, get those two back together yet?” she asked dryly.

I gaped at her.

She grinned. “I know you a lot better than you think.”

I smiled weakly, and we then sat in silence for a time.
Tamara really was an amazing girl.

“So, where are the Twins?” I eventually asked.

“Who knows?” she sighed, glancing up at the glass ceiling overhead. “They were splashing, I sort of yelled at them, and then they ran off somewhere.”

I glowered at her. “Tamara…”

“Sorry,” she said with an apathetic shrug. “Babysitting is not my thing.”

I sighed. “Yeah, I know. I’ll make sure the groups are different next time.” I scooted closer and patted her hand under the bluish water. “You really are a good friend.”

She smiled, but I detected something amiss behind those emerald eyes of hers.

“Tamara, is everything OK?”

Her smile shrank and she turned slowly away. “Of course. Almost impossible to have a bad day in this place.”

I scrunched my face up at her, aware she wasn’t telling me something. “I also know you a lot better than you think.”

She regarded me ironically. “I doubt that.” She closed her eyes and settled against the back slab of the rock, but soon peeked to see if I was still staring at her. I was.

Her lips curled, she put her hands behind her head and spoke in a touchy voice. “Are you still mad at Thad?”

I groaned silently to myself.
Here we go again.

“No, not really,” I replied simply. “I guess he just wasn’t the guy for me.”

This seemed to energize her. “He’s a jackass for what he said to you. I’d love to reciprocate the favor.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I answered, trying to be diplomatic. Her sudden vehemence against Thad was inexplicable. “I’m sure there are far worse guys out there than he.”

She frowned darkly. “The sad thing is, you’re probably right.” She paused for a moment before adding, “If you
could
teach him a lesson…I don’t know, show him what it’s like to be in your place, would you?”

Her question was strangely compelling, and I bit my lip as I tried to decide on a response. Indeed, there was a small part of me that wanted to toss him away as he had done with me.
To have his kind of power.