The next Saturday, Andromeda and I meet Argentum at their house. The files are stuffed in my backpack. We have some snacks and then go to the basement to talk about the files. Argentum reads them and says, "I think I can make some sort of pamphlet explaining all this information. I'm very good at graphic design, so you guys can just leave the files with me."
"Can I trust you to hide them well enough?" I reply with a laugh.
"Have a little more faith in me, Goldie," Argentum replies with a laugh.
—
I make some extra copies of the files just in case, and Andromeda says she needs to use the bathroom. She telepathically winks as she leaves and adds, "You know what to do."
"So…umm…I don't really know how to say this…and there will probably never be a perfect time to say this…but…" I stammer
"I like you," Argentum finishes with a smile.
"So…you feel the same way?"
"I do."
"So…are we dating now?"
"If you want to."
"I do."
"Then we are."
"That was surprisingly easy."
"It was, wasn't it," Argentum replies with a laugh.
I hear a laugh in my head. "I didn't know you were so smooth," Andromeda says, not coming back into the room until Argentum and I finish hugging.
—
The three of us continue making plans. "So how are you going to distribute these pamphlets without the palace finding out?"
"Sleight of hand," Argentum replies.
I laugh. "Putting pamphlets in people's backpacks?"
"Yes."
I laugh harder. "How are you going to know who's the least likely to betray us?"
"I'm a good judge of character. And more importantly I've gone to school with these kids for three years."
"Fair enough."
We decide the meeting time and place we'll have Argentum put on the flier, watch a few episodes of a show because it would be suspicious for our hangout to end too soon, have some dinner, and then leave.
—
On the way back to the palace, Andromeda asks, "So when's your first date?"
"Uhh…I don't know."
She laughs. "My goodness, Aurum. I can't believe you're so clueless."
"Well what would you advise?"
"Just pick a place and a time. Probably next weekend."
I stare back at Andromeda as if that would be the most difficult task ever. She smirks. "Unless you're too chicken."
"Fine then. I'll set an actual date."
I text Argentum to ask if they want to go to the local diner for lunch next Saturday (yes I do have a phone. The only reason we communicated with letters when I was at the palace was because it's fun to receive physical mail).
—
The week drags by. Cygnus continues to bother me a bit, just to keep up appearances. The look in his eyes is different now, though. If not with understanding, he looks at me with respect.
I'm getting used to my powers. In fact, I'm actually learning to like them. The world seems to fall away when I'm using them. I never expected that something which used to cause me so much anxiety has become a way to relieve anxiety.
Of course I text with Argentum a lot. It's slightly different now that we're dating but it's not uncomfortable. In a lot of ways, we just act the same as we always did, which is what I prefer. I'm not a big fan of change in general.
—
Finally Saturday does come. We go to the cafe and talk about the same random stuff we always talked about but in a slightly different tone. Once we finish at the cafe, we go back to his house for a movie. Watching movies together is something me and Argentum always did (we often did so with Fallax, but I'm trying not to think about that). Unlike all our other hangouts, we lean in to each other. Eventually we end up snuggling. I've never thought of myself as the physically affectionate type (and either way I've never been in a relationship before), so it feels very…new. But I don't think I dislike it. "I could get used to this," I say with what's probably a somewhat goofy smile. "Me too," Argentum replies with a similar expression.
Unfortunately, this time has to end eventually. We hug goodbye and I go back to the palace.
—
"So," Andromeda asks. "How was your date?"
"It went well," I reply.
"Did you kiss?"
"That's an inappropriate question."
"I'm guessing that's a no."
"I can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"Well to be fair we can read each other's mind. I can't hide anything from you either."
"That's fair."
"So, getting back on topic since I know you hate small talk, what's our next move in terms of our…burgeoning rebellion I guess."
"Argentum's planning a gathering of people they know who might want to help us. We can figure it out then."
—
The next week crawls by. Both Andromeda and I are anxiously awaiting the meeting of our little rebellion on Saturday. I wish we could be doing more to help, but Andromeda and I agree that trying to recruit in the palace would be too dangerous.
A couple of days before the meeting, a classmate approaches me and says "You know, you've been gone every weekend lately. What exactly are you doing?"
"I still have friends from my old school."
The classmate laughs. "That's pathetic."
I roll my eyes and walk away, glad I've thrown them off the scent.
—
Finally Saturday does come. We meet in the basement of Argentum's house. The room is filled with people that I recognize, people that I've been going to school with for the past three years. People that have only ever been my acquaintances and nothing more.
And yet I know I have to be the one to talk first. My old classmates don't know Andromeda, and Argentum was just the temporary go between. I clear my throat and start with, "Thanks for coming everyone."