Calypso

Leo - Part 5

After about two nights, we'd finished the machine-a-ma-thingy.
I dip my spoon into the soup, drag it to my mouth, swallow, repeat. Leo sits across from me, eating his own food. We're sitting on the beach, near the place my dining table used to rest.
Behind us, the supplies are carefully packed and ready to go.
"All we need now is a boat," I say quietly.
Leo nods. "I can start chopping wood into boards tomorrow. Few days, we'll have enough for a small hull."
"You've made a ship before," I remember. "Your 'Argo II.'"
Leo nods again.
"So how long until you sail?" I make sure to keep my tone light.
"Uh, not sure. Another week?" He estimates. For some reason, that makes relief swell up inside me, followed by dread. I get to see him for a few more days. And then he's gone.
When did I start thinking like that?
I shake the thought out of my head and run my fingers over the circuit board. "This took so long to make."
"You can't rush perfection," Leo answers in that cocky and confident voice.
I feel the edges of my mouth tipping up. "Yes, but will it work?"
"Getting out, no problem. But to get back I'll need Festus and--"
"WHAT?" No one ever comes back. It's part of my curse.
Leo blinks. "Festus. My bronze dragon. Once I figure out how to rebuild him, I'll--"
"You told me about Festus. But what do you mean get back?"
He grins nervously. "Well... to get back here, duh. I'm sure I said that."
"You most certainly did not."
"I'm not gonna leave you here!" I take a deep, shaky breath at the words. In all of my time on this stupid island, he's the first to care THIS much after knowing my curse. "After you helped me and everything? Of course I'm coming back. Once I rebuild Festus, he'll be able to handle an improved guidance system. There's this astrolabe that I, uh... that I found in Bologna. Anyway, I think that with that crystal you gave me--"
"You can't come back," I insist. No sort of technology can beat magic.
Leo's face falls. "Because I'm not welcome?"
My heart does a somersault. "Because you can't. It's impossible. No man ever visits Ogygia twice. That's the rule."
Leo rolls his eyes. A single lock of coal black hair curls over his left eyebrow. "Yeah, well, you might've noticed I'm not good at following rules. I'm coming back here with my dragon, and we'll spring you. Take you wherever you want to go. It's only fair."
"Fair..." I half-breathe the word. Nothing in my life has ever been fair.
"You didn't really think I could start Leo and Calypso's Auto Repair without you, did you? I can't make cider and stew, and I sure can't sing."
He cares. He genuinely cares enough to try to come back and risk not being able to leave.
"Well, anyway, tomorrow I'll start on the lumber. And in a few days..."
I look up to see a large wooden raft float up to the shore.
I spring to my feet.
"Hurry!" I shout, grabbing some supplies and sprinting them to the boat. "I don't know how long it will stay!"
"But..." Leo stood shakily. I ran and grabbed another few packs of supplies. A banana spilled to the ground, and I had to run back and snatch it. "That's the magic raft?"
"Duh!" I yell. "It might work like it's supposed to and take you where you want to go. But we can't be sure. The island's magic is obviously unstable. You must rig up your guidance device to navigate."
I grab the little machine and run towards the raft. Leo finally starts moving and helps me to tie it to the raft and run wires to the rudder in the back. We quickly but carefully rig up the sail.
Within minutes, we were done. The raft looked the same as it had many times before.
"Go," I whisper.
Leo turns. We're so close I can barely breathe. His dark hair waves gently in the island breeze, and his eyes...
"The raft finally got here," he murmurs.
I snort, trying to keep the tears at bay. "You just noticed?"
"But if it only shows up for guys you like--"
"Don't push your luck, Leo Valdez. I still hate you."
"Okay."
"And you are NOT coming back here. So do NOT give me any empty promises."
"How about a full promise? Because I'm definitely--"
I lean forward and kiss him.
When I finally break it and pull back, I have to wipe my eyes furiously. "That didn't happen."
"Okay." His voice is an octave higher than normal.
"Get out of here."
"Okay."
I turn and run back towards my cave, my heart heavier than it's ever been.
After all these years, I feel like I've finally found my true love.
And now he's gone.