So over Christmas break I was bored. I mean, really, really bored. The weather was gross, and there are only so many times you can hang out in Eric Yorkie’s basement watching the boys play Guitar Hero while hoping that Mike Newton notices that you are looking particularly cute for no particular reason. Stupid boys.
So one day I agreed to babysit a kid down the block. Which really just turned into me hanging out in HIS basement, watching HIM play Guitar Hero. Ugh. The difference, however, was that this kid had the entire series of Harry Potter books. Don’t judge. I said I was bored. I picked up the first book in the series and thought I’d give it a go. Two diet cokes, a half a bag of Doritos, and six hours later… I was hooked.
I don’t know if you can really relate or not… to reading a book that you literally can not put down? I felt like I was on crack. I kept reading and reading and reading… And I know that probably makes me sound like the weirdest person on the planet. I became like… obsessed with these freaking books! By the time the kid’s Mom came home I was completely sucked into the world of witches and wizards, and was forced to ask her if I could borrow the rest of the books so that I could read them all.
She was cool, even though I rambled on like a psycho person about my newfound interest in all things magical. But then she said something that totally got my attention. She leaned forward- you know, like people do when they have a really juicy piece of gossip to share- and she said, “Jessica… you don’t have to look to the books if you’re interested in witches and wizards. Don’t you know that there are families that practice magic, right here in this area?”
Now- I am a serious journalist. And I know that most gossip at least has SOME roots in the truth. So I started asking around, and following leads. Most of it was back-handed whispers. But all of it led me to seeking out the following interview.
***
(I walked into the diner at the edge of town, looking around for the guy who agreed to be interviewed this week. It was a typical glass-front building with faux wood-paneled walls inside. The beat- up hostess station in front was surrounded by a few really tall fake plants that were supposed to block the tables inside from view. But they weren’t nearly tall enough to hide the large form of a guy that sat all alone at a booth in a section to my right. He sat, playing with his silverware and smiling down at the graffiti on the tabletop in front of him. I took a minute to look at him, before I summoned up a little courage and approached the booth.)
Me: Emmett? Emmett McCarty?
(The guy looked up when I spoke. And whoa! He quickly slid out of the booth to stand while he smiled. Dude was huge. I mean… HUGE. And young. And completely gorgeous. Dark, curly hair… blue eyes… dimples. Did I mention the good manners? He actually stood up!)
E: Yes. Are you Jessica?
Me: Yes! Hi…Yes. I’m Jessica. Thanks for agreeing to speak with me!
(He reached out to shake my hand then. And I really hoped my palm wasn’t sweaty or something completely gross like that. Because this guy was like… wow. And his grip on my hand was like, really firm. But also gentle.)
E: It’s my pleasure.
(He totally waited for me to slide into the booth before he moved to join me. I think he probably would have like held out a chair for me or something. Because this dude had seriously good manners already. But we were, you know, sitting in a booth. Like I said. And it didn’t even matter that there were scratch marks all over the table-top, or a pathetic little wilted flower decorating the vase beside us. It was… really just kinda perfect.)
Me: Where did you get those dimples?
(Okay. SO didn’t mean to start the interview that way. But he laughed. )
E: From my mother. Is that our first question?
Me: No. Oh God. I’m sorry. Sometimes I just say the first thing that pops to mind.
E: Should make for a fun interview then.
(He was completely smiling, a totally friendly sort of grin. So I knew I didn’t offend him or anything with my weird girl-moment.)
Me: I was actually going to ask about this diner. I saw you looking at some of these marks when I came in. You looked kinda… nostalgic? I was going to ask if this place had any special significance for you or something?
(His hands came up and he traced his fingers over some of the marks. I can’t believe I didn’t notice until right then that the guy wore a simple gold band on his wedding finger! I made a mental note to ask him about that later.)
E: I just like the burgers here. I can’t get anything like this back in Seattle.
Me: Oh! That’s right! You live in Seattle now, right? And you’re back in town for the weekend, visiting?
E: Yes, my cousin just had her 18th birthday. We tend to celebrate those birthdays in style.
Me: Like totally MTV ‘My Sweet Sixteen’ kinda style? Because I gotta tell you, I went to my friend's sixteenth birthday party and she asked her parents if they could get like a good band to perform and all they got her was a Clay Aiken impersonator. Parties around here kinda suck.
(He laughed before he spoke again.)
E: You're a funny one. I like you already. That sounds like a good idea for practical joke for the next party. Get Clay Aiken to perform. My friend Edward would strangle me, but it might be worth it to see his face when Clay came on stage. Hey, do you think he could do Captain and Tenille's "Love Will Keep us Together"?
Me: Who? Clay Aiken or your friend, Edward?
(I think we confused each other. And he was obviously trying not to laugh again.)
E: Clay Aiken.
Me: I dunno. Maybe they could do a duet! (And now I decided to get us back on track and ask him about that ring he wore.) Every Captain needs a Tenille. Who is yours? Your Tenille I mean?
E: Edward doesn't like to perform in public.
(His smile dropped. And he totally ignored my question. Which pretty much made me determined to get my answer.)
Me: Poor Clay. I guess he's out of luck as far as Edward goes. And obviously... YOU are taken?
(I got specific. And this time, I pointed right at the ring on his hand. He wasn’t going to get out of answering. I am a professional, damn it.)
E: Yes, I am. Rose.
(He was smiling again. The awkward moment passed.)
Me: Rose? That’s a pretty name. Is she your wife?
(Emmett sort of looked at me like he was trying to sum me up. But he stayed calm, and he kept smiling. He just leaned forward a little and clasped his hands together on the table.)
E: Yes. Rose is my wife, and she is as pretty as her name.
Me: Don't take this the wrong way dude... but like... aren't you kinda young? I mean... maybe I shouldn't pry. I know there are probably things you don't want to talk about in an interview and everything. But I'm really good at keeping secrets. I mean... you can ask any of my friends. Once my friend Becky thought she was pregnant and I only told like three people. But it turns out she just had mono.
(Emmett burst out with laughing again before leaning back in his booth.)
E: Mono is terrible, I hear.
Me: Yeah. But it doesn’t give you stretch marks. Why did you decide to get married, so young?
E: Rose and I just knew we were meant to be. I love her and wanted to be with her.
Me: That's actually, like... sweet. It's kinda weird... but sweet. (He leaned forward, with his hands together again. He was watching me with such a pleasant expression that I decided to just plunge into the real reason I had asked to meet with him.) Speaking of kinda weird…that’s kinda why I asked to meet with you. (He cocked his eyebrow, but didn’t interrupt.) Not because of weirdness like in general. Just... you know... some people talk. Not me. I don't gossip at all. But you know… there are rumors...
E: Really? (He kinda sounded like he was teasing me. But I could tell he was interested.)
Me: See... here's the deal. I'm kind of a big fan of Harry Potter. Not the movies... but the books. I mean, I saw pictures of that Daniel Radcliff guy when he was doing a play on Broadway and he was naked. I saw WAY too much of Harry's wand ... if you get my drift. But I really am interested in like... you know... wizards... and witches.....and I've heard some stuff... rumors…that maybe makes me think that you and I might have that in common. Or something. A little.
(He chuckled and ducked his head. But when he looked up, he had this sort of glint in his eye that told me he knew exactly where I was going with this, and he was amused.)
E: Seeing Daniel’s wand? Or being Harry Potter fans?
Me: Despite our rather lengthy conversation about Clay Aiken, I assume that you aren't interested in Harry's wand. I'm talking about... uh…Well... some people think that magic doesn't only exist in books. How do you feel about that?
E: It depends on who you ask. Some people will say that they believe in magic. Like wishes coming true as a form of magic. As for flying broomsticks, as cool as I think that is, and man, Quidditch? I would totally would love to play that game, but I don't think that kind of magic is real.
Me: But you do think some of that stuff is real? Cuz like... if one were to listen to gossip and rumors - which I don't- there really are witches. Right here in this area. I mean... I could totally be a witch and you wouldn't even know it. I could be like... doing a magic thing on you right now. I'd be all like "Hey Emmett... take off your shirt.” And you'd just like do it.
Which I have to say... would make my day a whole lot less boring.
E: (Laughing again.) I would? Are you trying to get into my pants?
Me: I said shirt. Wouldn't want to deal with the thorns on that Rose of yours, cowboy.
E: Ahhh...sorry. Thanks for the explanation. Well… I'm not feeling the urge to take my shirt off. Maybe you ride broomsticks or play Quidditch? Like I said, that would be cool.
Me: Sorry to say, I don’t have any magical powers. But what about you? Any hidden abilities?
(He stared up at the ceiling, pretending to think. I could tell he was totally playing with me.)
E: Hmmm...let me think. I can make good ‘Suicides’! The right amount of Coke to Cherry coke to Sprite needs to be just right. Rose asks me to make them for her all the time.
Me: I hope, for her sake, that's not your only hidden talent.
E: So...if you had a magic power, what would it be. You know, hypothetically?
(I wasn’t entirely prepared for him to turn the questions to me.)
Me: It sure as hell wouldn't be mixing up carbonated drinks! Let me think…Oh! I know! I would love the ability to read my teacher's minds and know in advance what will be on my tests. Oh- and when they'll have pop quizzes. And what the hell they are thinking when they wear some of the ugly clothes they do. Because really it would be easier to concentrate at school if I wasn't distracted by the horrible fashion sense of those who are supposed to be leading my educational career.
(Emmett laughed at my answer… but not in a mean way. Then he sorta turned his attention to that sad little pink rose at our table and touched it lightly, like he was being careful to not make any of the brown-edged petals fall off before he started talking again.)
E: What about something that would help people? Or even the planet? Maybe a way to reverse environmental damage?
Me: Are you saying that’s what you would do? If you could?
E: (Shrugs) Sure. Why not?
(He was still playing with that flower, when we were interrupted by a loud ringing, coming from his jacket. He pulled out his phone and apologized to me, before reading the screen.)
E: I’m sorry. Rose needs me at home. I gotta go.
(I was just a little disappointed. We were finally getting to the good stuff, and he stood up to leave.)
Me: Well… I appreciate you meeting with me today. It’s always nice to meet another Harry Potter fan.
E: You know, Jessica… I always thought that real magic was something more subtle. That it's like the wind blowing, maybe water flowing, roasting marshmallows over a glowing fire. Even the bloom of a perfect flower…
(With a dimpled and charming smile, he held his hand out and offered me a perfect pink rose. My eyes flew to the empty vase at the table… then back up to his. For once… I was speechless. I couldn’t even bring myself to say ‘goodbye’ as he left.)
***
I sat back in the booth, staring at the flower while Emmett walked toward the door. He was whistling “Love will keep us together” and it made me smile.
If you would have tried to tell me that I would spend the morning talking to such a gorgeous guy about Clay Aiken, Harry Potter, Captain and Tenille, and nudity in broadway plays, I would have thought you were insane. But after this interview, I have started to realize that if you keep your mind open- anything is possible.