The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens

Author:F.T. Lukens [Lukens, F.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Interlude Press
Published: 2017-08-02T19:01:51+00:00

Chapter 8

Bridger’s life fell into a strange routine.

His days were filled with school and homework and the uncomfortable space that once had been filled with Astrid’s presence. He ate lunch with the football team now, since she still wasn’t talking to him. Vicious rumors ran rampant regarding Astrid and Bridger’s huge falling out, some of them bordering on the ridiculous—that Astrid was a homophobe and didn’t like Bridger’s new friendship with Leo—and others fairly close to the truth—that Bridger was a jerk who abandoned Astrid after their years of friendship. Bridger didn’t confirm or deny any of them, hoping his inattention would make them go away. It didn’t.

His afternoons, when not at work, were filled with texts to and from Leo. Bridger learned Leo liked comic book movies but not actual comic books. Blasphemy. Batman was his favorite, and Bridger promptly told him he was wrong and should switch allegiance to Captain America. His favorite band was Pierce the Veil and he listed a bunch of other bands and singers Bridger had never heard of, which led him to spending an awful amount of time on YouTube. Leo knew how to dance because his mother wanted him to learn and his dad played salsa music all the time while he cooked. Leo played football and baseball, and he might run indoor track in the winter. He liked to send Bridger random pictures that he found amusing from the Internet or from around town. Bridger soaked it all in, and the more he learned about Leo, the more he went from being brilliant, unattainable, athletic-star Leo to accessible, compassionate, funny, and giant dork Leo. Bridger liked that Leo even more.

His nights were filled with loneliness and homework and memorizing the book of myths Pavel had given him. Thick ink filled the book’s pages with sketches of creatures and the folklore surrounding them. There were notes too, in Pavel’s cramped handwriting, but also in other scripts, from previous owners. The book had a history all its own, and at times Bridger was overwhelmed with the responsibility Pavel had entrusted him with, of the knowledge of a world which so few knew of and so many had devoted their lives’ work to protecting.

His afternoons were spent at Pavel’s office helping him when possible. They hadn’t cracked the code but, other than the ridiculous cold snap, things seemed to have calmed.

Days bled into a week since the night of the unicorn. On a lazy Saturday, when Leo had practice and Bridger’s mom slept, Bridger took the bus to the office. How awful was Bridger’s life that the only person available to hang out with was his boss?

Bridger knocked on the door, and it immediately swung inward to reveal Pavel decked out in a long overcoat on top of a thick sweater. He had gloves on his hands and a puke-green scarf wrapped around his neck, covering the lower part of his face. He had a knit hat pulled low over his ears.

Bridger barreled in. “I have a question.

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