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My mother knew what she was doing. I didn’t want to consider her help, but she left an answer to my problems lying on the kitchen counter. I couldn’t ignore it.

I wanted to believe the things my dad did. He always preached how we didn’t need magic or a lot of money to get by, but it was so often that I saw how life could have been with it.

I used the spell. Time was running out, and as much as I wanted to keep my word that I wouldn’t rely on stolen spells, my mother had given me the key to a locked door. It didn’t feel good, and I wasn’t going to say thank you, but I gave into the weakness of a moment.

On Tuesday, June 2nd, I woke up at 9 in the morning. By 10, I was on my way to the town’s theater to meet BJ for the internship. There were only four people selected to participate, myself, BJ, an elf that went to our school, but I’d never met before, and a red-haired girl named Vista. We all arrived on time. For some reason, we weren’t let in until 11 o’clock by an old white guy wearing a black and white tuxedo. He looked like a stereotypical magician with his magic wand, top hat, and white gloves. Out of everything about him, his handlebar mustache was probably the most ridiculous. His name was Matt Pitt, and he ran the town’s magic organization.

The old guy escorted us all into the building, where we found seats before the main stage. He went up on stage and stood behind a podium to give what was obviously a rehearsed speech. Up until then, I was groggy from waking up so early on a day I should have been sleeping in. I might have tried to sleep while Matt gave his speech, but a nudge from BJ quickly gathered my attention.

“I’m glad you decided to better yourself over getting drunk and spending weeks out in a desert,” BJ said while we watched the old-timer fiddle with a microphone as if he’d only just discovered the technology.

“You know I hate long car rides anyway,” I joked as I stretched in my seat.

Before either of us could say anything else, our advisor finally spoke. He spoke for a long time. The old guy killed half an hour before he got to anything worth remembering. By that point, I’m sure everyone else, much like myself, was straining to keep their eyes open. His voice dragged on at a snail’s pace. There was no excitement in his tone even when his words should have carried character. It could have been his reading from a piece of paper that made him so monotone, or perhaps it was his age at fault. Either way, I was seconds away from using my ears to strangle myself.

“Spells are fickle. They require strict, organized, thought-out craftsmanship. The public knows magic that has been meticulously studied and simplified. What you will learn here is how to craft new and spectacular magic. By the end of these eight weeks, you may very well have your own spells that will forever be unique and coveted by your families. You’ll craft something new,” Matt said in his dead tone.

As he paused, it was hard to miss as four unannounced bodies walked on stage and stood to the side of his podium.

“But first, you need to know the basics. To qualify for this internship, you were asked to submit an original spell. This was a test to weed out those who were capable of taking risks from those too meek or meager to measure up. Now that you are here, you will each be paired with a mentor who will teach you the proper ways to go about this dangerous art.”

One by one, Matt introduced the four strangers, and as he did, spotlights came alive to highlight their presence.

“We have Del Toro, famous for his animal spells. Gwen Hastings, Daybreak’s first magician to ever be featured in publications like Wizards Weekly and Magic’s Monthly. Young Prince, Daybreak’s youngest self-made magician who has created more than half a dozen household spells known across the world. And of course, the lovely Lady Beth, who acts as my right hand here in Daybreak,” said Matt.

They all looked like characters ready to be featured on Primetime TV. Their clothes were fancy; even Toro, with his blue Jean’s and open shirt, wore leather boots that probably cost more than my dad’s car. Each of them had a presence that made them pop, some more than others.

“There are four categories of magic. Practical magic that fulfills a specific purpose and is open to be used by the masses. Battle magic, which carries negative or harmful effects, most of which can only legally be used by law enforcement, the military, and special cases. Showman’s magic, magic that is done in performance. And finally, Leisure magic can be used by anyone but doesn’t serve a single purpose. Your mentors each specialize in a particular branch of magic. We’ve decided who to pair you with by the categories of magic your submitted spells fell under,” Matt added before we were all asked to stand and walk onto the stage.

BJ stayed with me as we left our seats. My limbs were stiff from sitting for so long.

“Isn’t this incredible?” BJ said with excitement as we made our way up the steps onto the stage.

The way she described the internship, I believed we’d all be working together. I didn’t expect to work one on one with actual professionals. In a way, it was amazing, and it was also mind-numbingly boring. To be fair, it was the first day, and introductions had to be made. We weren’t to any of the good stuff yet, but I had to hope there would be good stuff at all.

“It’s something,” I said with as much energy as I could muster, but that wasn’t much.

Once we were on stage, we had to figure out who we’d been paired with. It didn’t take long. Our mentors knew who we were and held signs with our names on them. I was going to be spending the next eight weeks with Lady Beth, while BJ was stuck with Young Prince.

I might have made fun of all their ridiculous names, but my parents named me Pitch because my mom was convinced I’d grow up to be a singer someday.

Lady Beth was definitely right hand to Matt. With a blood-red cocktail dress, high heels, and black hair, she looked more like a magician’s assistant than a main act. But who was I to be so critical? Had I been judging, she would have scored high regardless of the getup she wore out in public. At least she wasn’t as old as Matt. That might have been a deal-breaker. I had to try my hardest not to undress her with my eyes, but Beth woke me up in more than a few ways.

As I stepped up to my new advisor, I debated with myself on how to make introductions. Lucky for me, I didn’t have to make the first move.

“You must be Pitch,” Beth said.

“And you’re Lady Beth,” I replied.

I offered my hand, but she wouldn’t take it. I suppose she wasn’t the type for handshakes, so I retracted my palm awkwardly and put it away in my pocket.

“I was thoroughly impressed with your spell,” she said.

“Thank you... I guess,” I said, unsure of how to take a compliment to something that had turned me into a walking circus act.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a curse with such a highly effective nature,” she praised.

“Yeah ...it’s really something alright,” I replied with obvious disinterest.

The individual pairings left the stage, but Lady Beth and I stayed behind. We were alone, with only the spotlights and empty seats acting as an audience.

“When I tried it, I nearly went mad. You were cruel to submit your entry as a common locator spell without warning of side effects. The way it merges the user with whatever creature it’s meant to locate, I’ve never witnessed anything like it. It took me three days to find a remedy,” she said.

It took a moment to register what she said so nonchalantly.

“Wait, you used my spell!?”

“Of course. I had to verify that it worked.”

“But, you’re not a...” I searched for the proper words.

“A half-breed? No. As I said, ‘I found a remedy.’”

“Then you have a cure!?” I exclaimed.

My mother’s spell gave me the power to split myself in two. I was able to go with Wes to STR and be with BJ at the internship. As long as nothing happened to either of my halves, I’d have been able to merge back into my whole at the end of summer. Optimistically, I assumed I’d also keep any memories that either of my selves created.

On Tuesday, June 2nd, I woke up at 9 in the morning still together as a whole, and by 9:30, I did the split. By ten, my other half, let’s call him Pitch 2, went to the internship, while I, let’s call me Pitch 1, left the house around 10:30.

I was on my way to Wesson’s house. I felt dirty for using my mother’s spell, knowing where it likely came from, but “choice” was becoming a growing enemy. I wanted to make the best decision that would let me be with my friends.

Wes and I weren’t leaving for STR for another couple of days, but only one of my halves could continue to live at home. Having two rabbits coming and going would have led to my dad discovering what I’d done eventually.

I had to wonder, did my father use the same magic?

Mom said he used it when I was a baby. What if her spell allowed him to work two jobs in the present? I never understood how he put in so much overtime at a car garage and a fast-food joint, but my mother’s magic would have made it easy. However, the thought didn’t seem likely. My dad wouldn’t conceal something like that from me, right?

Either way, I had to stay with Wesson’s family until it was time for us to leave for the festival. I expected to have a tough time explaining why I had to live with him, but he was fine with it. He was a friend if ever I had one. He was happy to have me around, so when I showed up at his door that Tuesday morning, he only had one question.

“Want breakfast?”

He invited me inside, and after following him through the house, I smelled his mother’s cooking in the kitchen. I tried my best not to be seen glancing over at her. She, like her husband and son, never wore clothes or tried to cover up. We could have hung out downstairs, but my eyes couldn't avoid the sight of her bending over to take something out of the oven. Somehow, Wesson was completely oblivious. Out of respect for my friend and his family, I suggested that we kill time in his bedroom. He thought I was shy and tried to convince me his mother wouldn’t care if I stole a few glances. No matter what Wesson said, it didn’t feel right. Eventually, after he rolled his eyes at my prudishness, we went upstairs.

“So then I climbed down, and she was just standing there like I did something wrong,” Wes said as we entered his bedroom.

“You peed in her sink,” I said

“Well, I couldn’t get in the bathroom, and people lose their shit when you pee on a tree.”

I laughed, and so did Wes. He was still packing his things, getting ready for the trip. There was no rush, but I tried to help since I was there.

“When is your cousin supposed to make it here?” I asked.

“By tomorrow, I already asked if he’d go with us,” Wes said

“And?”

“And he said yes.”

“Great, I can’t wait to spend the next eight weeks out in the desert.”

I didn’t mean to sound sarcastic, but it came out that way.

“I can’t tell if you mean that or you don’t want to go anymore,” Wes said, somewhat confused, it seemed.

“Sorry, sarcasm has been my default for a while.”

“Well, the festival is only four weeks, so we should make it back before the end of the break.”

“It’s only four weeks?” I asked.

“Didn’t you look at any of the stuff I sent you,” Wes said as he took out his phone to show me an online flyer he texted days ago.

“My phone was wrecked in that troll orc fight last week.”

“Oh. Well, yeah, it’s only four weeks, and they’re supposed to have a different band headlining each couple of days.”

“I’ve never even been to a concert before.”

My dad and I could never afford to buy tickets, but even had we, I doubt I would have gone. Even though I had been a half-breed for years, I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the house unless absolutely necessary. The only exception being the time I spent with Wes and BJ. Even when I hung out with them, it was away from other people.

“Trust me. You’ll have fun. I heard Fire Bird is supposed to be there by the second week, that’ll be reason enough to go,” Wes said, trying to convince me.

“Whose Fire Bird?”

“They’re a band of guys who used to live in Daybreak. They even went to our school for a little while. After they graduated, they went to Europe and blew up. Now everyone knows who they are.”

“Everyone but me,” I corrected.

“Well, yeah, but that’s because they’re more popular in the Fae community. You still see yourself as human, so you probably haven’t looked into them.”

“I am human,” I said.

“Dude, you’re a talking rabbit, with the worst luck in the universe. I’m more human than you are... literally in some ways,” he said jokingly.

“Whatever, about the band, though, you know a lot about them. You must be a pretty big fan?”

“Dude, if I get anywhere near them, I’ll,” he said before pausing.

I think he was playing out the scenario in his mind.

“You’ll what?” I asked, teasing him further.

“If we’re lucky, we’ll both get lucky while we’re there.”

“Come on, Wes. It won’t be anything special for you.”

I had a hard time believing my friend needed to leave town just to get some tail.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, as if he didn’t know.

“A few weeks at a festival won’t be anything different from a Monday for you,” I said.

“Well, thanks, buddy, that’s some high praise, but I’ll have you know I’m still waiting for the right dude.”

It might have been nothing, but what he said caught me off guard.

“What?” He asked.

I suppose it must have visibly caught me off guard too.

“It’s nothing,” I said.

“You gave me a look there. What was it?” he didn’t seem offended, but he continued to push.

“The way you said that,” I paused before I continued, “it’s just you made it sound like you were saying... you’re gay?”

“Bi actually.”

“Oh...”

Oh, shit was more like it.

“Yeah?” He said.

There was that awkward air in the room again, but he wasn’t even naked that time around.

“Is something wrong?” He asked.

“No, nothing’s wrong,” I said, attempting to reassure him.

“It feels like something’s wrong.”

“I didn’t realize you were...”

I couldn’t say the words for some reason.

“Most of my kind are,” he added.

“I thought that was a stereotype, like how you’re all supposed to be pacifists.”

“To be fair, we only know the difference between gay or straight because of humans. It’s not important to us, or most of the fae community, come to think of it.”

I was beginning to feel like an asshole, so I cut him off before he could continue.

“It’s not important to me either. I get it. I just... I guess I never thought... because you don’t seem like... I mean, you never said,” I stumbled.

“If it’s a problem?”

“No! It’s not a problem. It’s just... new,” I stammered like an idiot.

“But it’s not a problem?”

“Wes, it’s not a problem. I promise.”

Wes had come out to me, but somehow, I made things awkward. Thank God his mom called us downstairs to eat when she did; otherwise, I might have made a bigger ass of myself.