Chapter XXIII

Vinny could hardly believe what he was looking at. The whole scene was so preposterous that part of him wanted to ensure that the Liz Tao standing before him wasn’t an imposter. However, having known the girl as long as he had, he could tell by the determined look in her eyes that there was no discrepancy between her mind and her soul. It truly was the real Elizabeth Tao who had just placed The Switch on his desk despite Eric’s choice to refrain from giving it to him. Behind Liz, Vinny could see Jay gaping at her with his mouth hanging partially open.

“Do what needs to be done,” she had said, completely contradicting her earlier decision to stand by whatever Eric decided to do. Not to mention that by doing what she had just done, she was essentially going against Damien’s wishes, something she rarely did since it wasn’t often they disagreed on anything. Despite Vinny’s desperation to get his hands on the stone, he felt a pit forming in his stomach and, instead of celebrating and thanking her, he instead asked her a question.

“Have you gone crazy?” he whispered.

Liz chuckled weakly. “Maybe. It really does look that way, doesn’t it? But I thought this through. I want to help Alice.”

“And Damien?” Vinny inquired. “You do realize he’s going to be furious about this, don’t you?”

“Well, it’s a good thing I have him under my siren’s song, yeah?” she joked, but the boy failed to see the typical mischievous glimmer in her eyes when she said it. Her features then turned serious as she continued. “I love Damien. I really do. But that doesn't mean I’m just going to blindly follow him. He’s cautious and that’s something I think this club needs, but...in this instance, I think he’s letting his fear of the stone get in the way of doing what we have to.”

For a moment, Vinny and Liz looked into each other’s eyes, the blonde boy trying to see into her mind to figure out just what was going through her head. Then, realizing the absurdity of what was happening, he couldn’t help but to laugh.

“Well, what do you know?” he teased. “Who would have ever thought you and I would be on the same side, eh, dear Liz?”

She smirked. “Yeah, I really have lost my mind. Why would I ever think taking your side was the smart move?”

Vinny leaned back in his chair and looked past her to where Jay was still staring in astonishment at the two of them. When Liz noticed his gaze shift, she glanced over her shoulder to give the boy a wry grin.

“Don’t look so surprised,” she said. “After all, this is a page out of your book, if I’m not mistaken. Or do you no longer like the idea of swiping the stone out of somebody’s backpack?”

“W-well, I…” he stuttered. “Well, last I checked, the penalty for stone theft was giving away your body for one hour. You sure you can handle that, Tao?”

Despite trying to make a joke, there was no sense of humor in Jay’s tone. It was almost as if the joke was just his way of trying to process what was going on. Regardless, Liz still laughed and put her hands on her hips as she eyed Jay.

“Oh, I’m fine with that,” she declared. “These boys are all talk. They wouldn’t actually do anything bad to an innocent young girl such as myself. Worst I’ll get is a good ol’ slap on the wrist and I’ll be home free.”

Vinny frowned, knowing she was intentionally downplaying the likely repercussions of what she did. There was a sense of trust among the club members, but especially between Liz and Damien. By stealing the gem from Eric, Liz had gone against that trust and it wasn’t going to be something she could just fix. It would take a lot of time and even then, there was no guarantee she would ever be able to reclaim the complete trust she always had. So, it only begged the question…

“Why do this, Liz?” Vinny asked, staring down at the smooth orange surface of The Switch. “You know it’s not as simple as that. What do you gain by helping me? I mean, you hardly know Alice. What reason is there to do this for her?”

The bespectacled girl turned her attention back to Vinny, the humorous mood leaving her features as she turned serious yet again.

“Use your head, Vin’,” she said. “Just think about it for a minute, why don’t you? Alice is being targeted because of her connection to you. There’s no doubt in my mind now that we’ve gotten a confession out of Evan. Alice is being bullied because she’s dating you.”

Despite already having deduced that much, the blunt way in which Liz stated it still sent a wave of nausea running through his system. She was right, after all. Alice had been targeted by Evan because he hated Vinny and saw her as a convenient way to make him suffer.

“So, how could I not feel a sense of camaraderie with her?” Liz continued. “After all, I’m dating a member of the Magic Club, who happens to also be the infamous Damien Clark. While nobody’s ever smashed my locker or drawn on my desk, I am an outcast. So I know a bit about what Alice must be going through.”

Vinny couldn’t help but to stare at her in surprise. She had never once told him that it weighed on her at all. Liz always seemed to be like him and Eric—somebody who didn’t give a damn how they were perceived and would do as they pleased regardless of how they looked. But now, from the tone of her voice, it was clear to him that he misjudged her. She had been better at hiding her feelings than he thought. From the way she spoke, he could tell that her status as a school outcast wasn’t something she had brushed aside.

“But that doesn’t change anything,” Liz whispered. “Like I said, I love Damien. I wouldn’t give him up even if it was to be loved by everybody in the world. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t bother me, though. If people started treating me the way Alice is being treated, I’m not sure how well I’d handle it. I don’t want Alice to have to go through that. I want her to be happy and, even though we argue and tease each other as much as we do, I want you to be happy, too. You are my friend, Vinny. One of my best ones, in fact.” Her expression then hardened into one of strong determination. “So do it. Help Alice. Do what you can. You do have a plan, right?”

The blonde boy couldn’t help but to grin, fascinated by the side of Liz that he had never seen before. The genuine emotion in her voice was something he was grateful to have heard. Even after spending as much time as he had with her, he found there were still aspects of Liz Tao he hadn’t noticed.

“Of course I do,” he stated confidently.

She smirked in satisfaction. “Good. Though, I will say that I don’t want to know what. Giving you the gem is the best I can do for you. I won’t get involved with the plan. Is that okay?”

Vinny nodded firmly. “Of course! You’ve already done more for me than I ever could have asked for! I won’t let you down. Or Alice for that matter.”

“I wouldn’t think so,” she replied. “Now, once Eric realizes the gem is gone, they’ll come back here looking for us so, I’d recommend getting the hell out of here as fast as you can. You probably have until tomorrow morning at the latest before you’ll have no choice but to return it so get it done tonight.”

“Right!”

Vinny jumped to his feet and grabbed his backpack, sliding The Switch into his pants pocket in the process. Liz casually took a seat atop the surface of his desk and smugly watched as he rushed toward the door.

“Come on, Brooks,” Vinny ordered, snapping the boy out of his silent contemplation.

Jay looked up in surprise. “Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, you,” Vinny replied with a laugh. “You said you wanted to help Alice, right? Well, Liz already made it clear she won’t help me past this so I still need an assistant for the plan. That job falls to you. Now, get moving!”

Jay opened and closed his mouth as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do. “B-but…? Hold on just a second! What is it you actually plan to do?!”

“You’ll see,” Vinny replied excitedly. “But I’m confident it’ll be enough to get those bastards off of Alice’s back. You do want to help her, don’t you?”

For a moment, Jay simply stared at Vinny with a look that seemed to be a mix between caution and awe. The boy sighed, turning to look down at the ground.

“You...really care for Alice, don’t you? You really are prepared to do whatever it takes, the consequences be damned,” he whispered, almost more to himself than to the boy across from him.

Vinny nodded firmly. “I am.”

“And you’ve got the confidence to do it,” Jay muttered. “You...really are the type of person she needs.” The boy then raised his head and looked him directly in the eyes, seeming almost on the verge of tears, though Vinny didn’t make any move to point that out. “Thank you, Mickelson. I mean it.”

“Of course,” Vinny replied. “Now, let’s be off, dear Brooks! We’ve got a couple of assholes to fuck.”

Jay rolled his eyes, probably at the way Vinny phrased it, before collecting his things and following him from the room. Liz made no move to leave but that didn’t surprise Vinny. Most likely, she intended to wait for the others to come back. He didn’t know what she would say to them but he trusted that she wouldn’t have acted without first considering the consequences. Elizabeth Tao knew what she was getting herself into so Vinny would trust that she knew what to do.

For him, all he had to do was focus on saving Alice—regardless of what he had to do.

Regardless of who he had to hurt.

***

Damien sighed, leaning his body against the wall as he gazed through the window on the third floor of the school and out onto the snow-covered courtyard below. The weather had cleared up after a few days of snow but it was still overcast and dreary. He found it to be an ominously depressing sight and he couldn’t help but to feel a twinge of guilt flash through him once again. The horrified and hurt look on Vinny’s face when Damien opposed him was something that he knew would be hard to push from his mind. At the end of the day, he wished that, more than anything, he could have looked his friend in the eyes and told him to do what he could for Alice. The girl was hurting and, as Vinny said, they had the means to help her. By choosing not to use the gem, they could potentially be choosing to leave her out to dry.

Vinny knew that.

Damien knew that.

They all knew that.

But even knowing, it didn’t change the fact that what Damien said to the others was what he truly believed. Using the gem was something that should be avoided and especially using it on people who didn’t know of its existence. Had he been aware of the idea before it happened, he would have stood his ground against helping Brad Fischer pass his test. It was such a meaningless and benign problem that magic shouldn’t have been used to solve it. Eric, Lilly, and Vinny seemed to overlook the fact that what they had wasn’t some toy they could be using however they wanted. They didn’t know a damn thing about it. The stone was a complete enigma and it truly did terrify him.

Four and a half months had already passed since Eric first found the gem and there had still been no discoveries about where it came from, whose it was, or why it was in that cave. Eric seemed confident that there was nothing to fear, but Damien knew he was basing that confidence off of his mother’s old fantastical stories about magical worlds the likes of which were only supposed to exist in fairy tales. Eric Reiner saw the world through rose-colored glasses and so, he continuously refrained from believing that the stone could be dangerous. He saw it as a method with which he could help others and, as honorable as it was, it was foolish.

It was because he felt this way that Damien was relieved that Eric took his side in the argument with Vinny, though he wasn’t stupid enough to think it was because they shared the same values. The real reason Eric didn’t hand the stone to Vinny was simply because they all knew their friend was acting primarily on emotion. If he had the stone, there was no telling what he might do to Rina and Evan.

Vinny Mickelson despised bullying and Damien understood why. After all, Vinny didn’t used to be the upbeat and joking boy that he was now. In the past, he was an angry and quick-to-violence person who had lost much of his faith in humanity. He saw people as evil and he never had any problems standing up to them, sometimes even losing his cool when he did. That personality had, thankfully, started to vanish with time until there was almost no trace of it left. But, with everything that was transpiring with Alice, parts of that old persona were showing again. It was something Eric was probably afraid of and that was why he opted to refrain from using the gem. In fact, Damien wouldn’t be surprised if Eric intended to make a move himself, or even with the help of Lilly, who he knew was also desperate to do something for her friend.

Damien glanced over his shoulder to see the two of them standing beside the lockers, talking in hushed tones as they collected their things. Liz had already gone home so it was just the three of them left. Damien had considered leaving as well but, after thinking things through, decided there was more he wanted to discuss with them.

“Hey, Eric,” he called out, drawing the attention of the two of them.

“Yeah?” the taller boy replied. “What is it, Damien?”

He swallowed, knowing that by asking what he wanted to ask, it would essentially be him admitting that he didn’t trust Eric, but he still couldn’t help himself. The fact of the matter was that he didn’t trust him.

“Look, man,” he began, “I was just…wondering if you could give me the stone, at least until this all blows over?”

He saw Lilly’s expression shift to one of surprise but Eric hardly reacted. All he did was smile in a way that was almost sad.

“You think I’m going to do something?” he asked with a soft smile. “You think I’m going to use the stone to help Alice?”

Damien nodded, not averting his eyes from his friend’s, wanting to at least do him the respect of facing him as he spoke.

“I do,” he stated. “And I’m standing firmly by my statement that I don’t want it used. I don’t want you guys to get hurt and I really don’t want Rina and Evan getting involved in this mess. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”

“But Damien,” Lilly started to protest. “Eric already said he wasn’t going to use it. Do you think he’s lying?”

The boy sighed, eyeing Eric for a moment longer but, when Eric simply chuckled, he turned his attention to Lilly.

“I think it’s possible,” he admitted. “I’ve known Eric for a very long time, Lilly, and so I know that he would go to the ends of the earth to help those in need and honestly, I don’t think that’s a completely bad thing. As it is, this club wouldn’t exist if Eric wasn’t the type to hold out his hand to help people. So, I know Eric isn’t going to just stand by and let Alice take this. He won’t give the stone to Vinny but that doesn't mean he doesn’t intend to use it.”

Lilly was staring at him, clearly conflicted, before turning to look up at Eric.

“A-and…? Are you...planning to use it?” she stuttered.

Eric smirked and shrugged, speaking instead to Damien. “I appreciate all the compliments, my friend, but I do have to disappoint you here. I have no intention of using the stone. There’s nothing I can do for her, whether I like it or not. At the end of the day, Vinny’s the only one with the mindset to use that stone on either Davens or Wright.”

Damien didn’t think he was lying and the way Eric spoke sounded genuine.

“So then…?” Damien began, “Would you give it to me? Will you do me that much just to ease my mind?”

His old friend seemed to hesitate for a moment, making him wonder if he had misjudged Eric and the boy was lying. However, after a second of thought, he simply sighed, slid his backpack from his shoulder, and unzipped the front pocket. Lilly still seemed conflicted on the matter but she didn’t protest any further. The two of them waited as Eric rummaged around in the pocket, his expression turning all of a sudden confused, sending a chill down Damien’s spine.

“Eric?” he pressed. “What is it?”

“The gem,” he muttered. “It’s...not here. I...could’ve sworn I put it in this pocket.”

Damien and Lilly both exhaled sharply, their eyes widening in horror.

“You mean it’s gone?” she exclaimed.

Eric dropped his backpack to the floor and began rummaging through the other pockets, but Damien had the unnerving feeling that it was futile. Something in his gut told him that the stone had been stolen once again, and that the culprit was either Vinny or Jay, the ones who were in support of using it. Damien cursed, turning on his heel and sprinting back in the direction of the club, the realization that if either did steal it then they would try to run as soon as possible. He heard the other two call after him, but he ignored them, determined not to let them get away with stealing from Eric. When the door came into view, he wasted no time pulling it open and storming inside.

“Vinny?” he snapped furiously.

However, upon taking in the room, he couldn’t help but to exhale sharply.

No… No, don’t tell me… It couldn’t be! She…

The room was empty with the exception of a single girl sitting atop the desk Vinny had been sitting at, a sad smile on her face as they looked into each other’s eyes. He didn’t even have to ask to know what this meant. He could tell just by her expression that it wasn’t Vinny or even Jay that stole the stone but the girl sitting before him. There was no sign of the gem and, despite knowing it could be in her pockets, his instincts told him that it was already gone.

“I’m sorry, Damien,” Liz whispered softly.

He clenched his teeth, knowing that Vinny and Jay might still be in the school. Shoving down the unbridled fury and pain that was now coursing through him, he slowly turned, said nothing to his girlfriend, and sprinted in the direction of the staircase.

***

Yeah...that’s about what I expected, Liz thought weakly. But damn...I still wasn’t ready for it.

The horrified look of betrayal in Damien’s eyes was something she knew she would never forget. He hadn’t even said a word to her before turning around to pursue Vinny and Jay though she knew that it was futile. There had been a good five minutes between the boys leaving and Damien’s arrival. Once they got out of the school, Damien wouldn’t have any way of finding them. Even if he waited for Vinny at his house, by the time he returned, the plan would be over. There was no longer anything Damien could do to stop Vinny and she knew her boyfriend knew that. Yet, true to his nature, he was still going to try. It was one of the things she loved and respected about him. She hoped he would be able to forgive her once it was all over but she knew that thinking was selfish. She betrayed him and he knew that.

But I couldn’t just leave Alice hanging, Liz thought. I understand Damien’s worries but he’s never experienced what it’s like to be in Alice’s and my situations. To be hated by others simply because of who you care about, to have to endure the social rejection it comes with every day.

Liz struggled with it, even if she wouldn’t allow the others to see it. Damien in particular would blame himself if he understood what their relationship did to her.

And yet, what happens to me is nothing compared to what has happened and what could happen to Alice if this is left unchecked. We need to act quickly. Damien knows it but he can’t get past his fear of the gem, something I understand. I can’t say I’m not afraid of what its existence could mean. He’s not wrong...but I don’t think I’m wrong either.

After a few moments, the door to the clubroom was pushed open and Eric and Lilly rushed in, the former looking tired, as if he had just sprinted there. When they saw Liz sitting there, waiting for them, Lilly looked back in surprise. Eric, however, remained completely neutral.

“L-Liz?” Lilly stuttered. “What are you doing here? I thought you went home? Where’s Vinny? I…?”

“He’s gone out to deal with Davens and Wright,” Liz answered, eyeing Eric as she said it. “He’s going to use the stone to put this whole situation behind us.”

Lilly’s eyes went wide. “You mean…? He actually did steal it?”

“Nope,” Liz said with a shake of her head. “I did.”

The girl’s shock only increased with those simple words but, not wanting to listen to her protests, Liz immediately continued.

“Damien’s already gone after them,” she told her. “But Vinny and Jay have a significant headstart. He might need your speed, Lilly.”

Her friend just stood there in silence, as if struggling to process what had happened, before taking a sudden step back. Doing as Liz expected her to, Lilly’ features filled with determination as she turned and sprinted back through the door, leaving Liz and Eric alone in the room. The boy sighed and turned his back so as to follow after her but stopped in his tracks when Liz called after her.

“This isn’t a situation where I can just give you the stone,” Liz said, reiterating what Eric had told Vinny earlier in the clubroom. “That’s a very curious way of phrasing that, freindo.”

Eric didn’t even turn his head when he responded. “I fail to see your point, dear Liz.”

The girl shrugged nonchalantly. “My point? Who really knows. Although, I will say that you ought to be more responsible, Reiner. Zipping your backpack pockets up is a good habit to get into. Things can fall out when they’re left open.”

“Noted.”

That was the only word Eric spoke before proceeding forward and leaving her once again alone in the room However, Liz couldn’t help but to laugh.

Eric, you bastard. I expect your help cleaning this mess up when this is all said and done with.