Magic's Child by Justine Larbalestier Read Free Book Online

the basketball game hadn't gotten rid of enough nervous energy.
     
     
My nervousness multiplied. Danny wasn't going to be happy to hear about the baby. Especially when I told him I couldn't be sure it would be human.
     
     
"So, uh, Reason? There's some stuff I have to talk to you about too. Other than Julieta, I mean. Well, it's sort of got some to do with Julieta, of course."
     
     
"Yes?"
     
     
"But you can tell me your thing first if you want."
     
     
I blushed. "I don't mind."
     
     
He took another sip of his beer. "Well, you know I like you, right?"
     
     
I nodded, suddenly afraid of what he was going to say. He wasn't looking at me.
     
     
"So it's my fault. Totally my fault. I accept that and I feel really, really bad, 'cause you're a nice kid and, ah, it was, you know, ah…You sure you don't want something to drink? Soda? Water?"
     
     
"I'm sure." What did he think was his fault?
     
     
"You got any thoughts?"
     
     
"Thoughts?" I had lots of them. But mostly I just wished I knew what he was talking about.
     
     
"About what I'm saying?"
     
     
"Well, um, I like you too?"
     
     
Danny looked down. "Well, that's good, seeing as how you and Julieta are getting real close. Like sisters, she said. Um, is that how you feel about her? Like a sister?"
     
     
"I guess." I'd never had a sister before, but then I'd never had a friend either. It had always been just me and Sarafina. Other people were there to work for; or buy water, food, and supplies from; or tell us if the flood levels had dropped and we could cross the bar up ahead. Money, food, and information, but not friendship. "It would be nice to have a sister."
     
     
"It's great that you and Julieta are friends. She's been through a lot, you know? Our dad was real rough on her. And, well, you're the first friend she's had in a long time, so that's great and I'm really happy. I don't want her to lose a friend. I need to know that you're going to stay friends with her."
     
     
"Of course, Danny. Why wouldn't I?" My stomach felt weird. I wondered if I was going to chunder again.
     
     
"Well, right, yeah. See, that's the thing. I do, you know, I do like you. You're a great kid. But you're young. Really young. You're only fifteen! I'm eighteen, Reason."
     
     
"That's only three years— "
     
     
"It's a big difference. Trust me. And…" He took another long sip of his beer, finished it, and then crumpled the can in his left hand, flattening it into a metal disc. He wasn't acting as though he liked me, more like he wished I'd go away. "What happened was nice, but it was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened. I'm going to be starting college and you're still in high school— "
     
     
"No, I'm not. I've never been to high school."
     
     
"Right. I forgot. Well, you know, you should be in high school. So should Julieta. It's what I want for her. It's what Dad wanted: for her to be educated, make a life for herself— "
     
     
"She's dying," I said. "She doesn't have much of a life left."
     
     
Danny stood up abruptly, opened the fridge, pulled out another beer can, but instead of opening it, he held the can against his cheek. He looked like he might cry.
     
     
"She has hardly any magic left. Esmeralda tried to save her, but…" The Cansino magic hadn't worked for her because she wasn't a Cansino. She had only the normal kind of magic, and it was almost gone.
     
     
"And she's there," Danny said, "and I'm here." He glanced at his watch. "But not for much longer. Soon I'll be on the plane. I'm even gladder I'm going now. If she doesn't have much time, I have to be there. She's my sister."
     
     
I nodded. I felt the same about being separated from Sarafina.
     
     
He looked across at me, met my eyes. "I keep thinking that it's not true, you know? When I talk to her on the phone she's Julieta: full of spunk, buzzing. Not dead girl walking at all…" He rolled the can across his forehead then back again. "You're sure she won't get mad at me