Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Chapter Six

Milo

“I’m not late,” I announced, out of breath as I barreled through the hospital lobby to where Jasper stood. He was loaded down with a couple of bags, a large gold scepter, and a disturbingly accurate giant frog mask. My leg already ached from the fast walk from the bus stop, and I was pissed at it, missing the days when I could have easily jogged up to the hospital.

“Barely.” Jasper was smiling, but my chest was still tight. I’d been worried he’d assume I was going to bail and call the whole thing off. I’d had another message from Bruno the night before, underscoring how badly I needed Jasper’s help.

“Sorry. Bus took forever to come, but I made it.” Inhaling slowly, I tried to resume my normal voice without sounding too defiant. Didn’t need to start this thing off with my bad mood ruining our uncertain truce.

“That you did. And you actually beat some of the others. Come on, let’s get changed.” Jasper adjusted his bags, and I instinctively reached for two of them, leaving him with the props and his usual backpack. My hand grazed his shoulder, which was a miscalculation on my part. He was warm and solid and smelled like cedar, facts that my body took way too much notice of.

“Here. Let me help.” My voice was huskier than it needed to be as I shouldered the bags.

“Okay. Okay. Careful. The red one has all the intro decks we use for playing the kids.” Jasper strode across the lobby toward the restrooms, pausing near a soda machine to turn toward me. “And why don’t you have a car?”

Oh, how I hated questions like that. I got enough shit from my friends over my reliance on the area’s spotty transit. “I have a car. Just don’t like taking it out, especially in winter.”

That was true enough. My car was a classic Mustang that I’d spent hours restoring with my dad, and it was hardly a winter workhorse. But that wasn’t the whole story, wasn’t why my insides twisted up every time I had to drive, especially in bad weather. And I really hated caring what the hell Jasper thought, didn’t know quite how to take his shrug as he entered the restroom.

Jasper glanced around the empty room as he pointed to the blue bag. “Your stuff is in here. I’ll take the other bags in with me. Can’t risk someone walking off with the cards.”

“Yeah,” I said weakly. Couldn’t lose precious cards. For the billionth time since the weekend, I called myself all kinds of idiot. We exchanged bags and I headed into a cramped stall to change. It was weird, being back in a hospital with that distinctive medicinal cleaner smell, memories of my recovery and other less-than-pleasant associations making my injured leg tense further. My leg was already stiff from the too-fast walk from the bus stop, and the tight quarters didn’t help. I took a minute to rub my leg as I took off my shoes before stripping down to my shorts. It was chilly in the restroom, and despite being behind the locked stall door, I felt weirdly exposed.

Unfortunately, the costume didn’t help with that feeling as the thin fabric was all floaty as it draped over me, skimming my pecs and midsection before brushing my thighs and swishing around my knees. Bare arms. Bare legs. I’d worn a pair of compression shorts that I usually wore under baggier workout or soccer gear, but the toga was still rather…breezy. And strangely sensual. I’d never had silk sheets, but this fabric slid against my skin and made me aware of my nerve endings in a way I wasn’t entirely comfortable with.

“Don’t forget your accessories,” Jasper called from the next stall.

Oh, yeah. Ornate crown. Gold arm gauntlets. Gaudy seashell belt. And…earrings?

“I don’t have pierced ears.” I tried to sound regretful, not relieved.

“They’re magnets. And they’re tiny. Not gonna steal your dude bro cred, promise. I’ve seen NFL players with earrings.”

“Diamond studs are one thing. Seashells are…” My voice trailed off as I realized I wasn’t going to win this one and in fact was probably decreasing my chances of help after we were done. “Whatever. Putting them on.”

The magnets provided an odd pressure on my earlobes, like someone was tickling my neck and ears, but I tried to ignore them as I struggled to put on the lace-up sandals. No matter how I arranged the gold laces, my scars were still partly visible. Damn it. And of course Jasper noticed as soon as I emerged from the stall.

“Dude. Your leg—”

“I know.” My tone was harsh, but I didn’t want to take questions right then. Or ever, really. Wasn’t planning on baring any more than I had to for Jasper.

“Are you okay? The scepter is pretty sturdy if you need to lean on it.” He handed it to me quickly, like I was in danger of falling right that moment.

“I’m fine. And uh…that’s your costume?” Gripping the scepter tighter, I was actually grateful for the prop’s support as I took in Jasper’s outfit. He’d dropped a few hints in chat that I wasn’t going to like the Frog Wizard’s costume, but I’d figured on a hideous mask, not this.

“Yup. Warned you. Still want to switch?” Jasper’s outfit was various shades of purple with teal and gold accents. Close-fitting velvet coat that was short in the front, long in the back. Lacy lavender neck scarf that probably had some fancy British name. Embroidered vest. Tassels in more than one location. Short, tight pants, sort of like the kind on the covers of the historical novels my mom loved, but with sheer teal stockings over the lower legs that tapered into gold high-heeled shoes. Oh and a floppy velvet hat.

“Um. No. No switching.” I itched behind my ear, wondering if I was supposed to compliment him or what. He looked ridiculous. Also…surprisingly good. Like the outfit clung to his lean frame in a way that made him seem less skinny and more stylish. Elegant even. And if I were drawing a character, I wouldn’t ever put red hair together with those colors, but somehow on him it worked, almost too well. “I thought wizards wear, like, stars and big robes.”

“Not in Odyssey. There’s all types of wizards. The Frog Wizard is almost more like a court jester. Some of his cards transform. Sometimes he’s tricky, and other times downright devious. But he’s known for his style.”

“I can see. Those are some shoes. How do you even walk in them?”

“With practice.” Jasper laughed, then sobered. “Wait. Speaking of walking, I didn’t think… Is your leg going to be okay with the sandals?”

“It’ll be fine.” That was half-true. I would be fine, but I’d also be hurting later as my leg did rely on my shoe for a certain amount of stabilization. But I’d been putting in the time with the physical therapy exercises and figured I could spare an hour in sandals with no support.

“Whoops!” Two younger doctors in white coats and scrubs came in, door almost hitting Jasper. Both of their eyes went wide before they grinned slyly. Oh heck. This wasn’t going to be good. I braced myself for some insult.

“Is it Halloween already?” The taller of the two doctors had a deep voice and was apparently in no hurry to take care of his business.

“Nope.” Jasper shrugged, his smile as easy as ever, not in the least rattled despite his attire. “We’re expected upstairs. Patient visits.”

Somehow Jasper’s confidence seemed to have defeated the young doctors’ urge to tease. It was something, the way their faces transformed from joking to respectful.

“I bet the kids will be happy to see you.” The shorter doctor offered a warmer smile this time, but unlike Jasper, I didn’t grin back.

“They usually are.” Jasper still seemed perfectly at ease having the world’s most bizarre conversation in a men’s room. “We play the Odyssey card game with them.”

“Wow. I used to play that in high school,” the shorter doctor shared. I was a little afraid we were about to get into the specifics of the game right there, but then his companion added, “Good luck, guys.”

Finally, the doctors went into the stalls, and we grabbed our stuff and headed out to the hall. Where more people would see us. I had to swallow hard.

“Come on. Let’s introduce you to the rest of the gang.” Jasper knew no such hesitation as he headed to the bank of elevators near the restrooms. He punched the button for floor three, sparing a grin for an elderly couple sharing the elevator with us. His comfort in costume was impressive, but he still carried the frog head under his arm.

“Why don’t you put your mask on?” I asked, trying not to make eye contact with the others in the elevator.

“It’s hot and dark in there. Hard to see where I’m going. And sometimes it scares the younger kids. Instead, I wait until they ask me to wear it for a picture or something like that.”

“Makes sense.” I wouldn’t be in any hurry to put the giant mask on either. I followed him off the elevator to a waiting area where several costumed people were standing around. Most of the outfits I recognized from Odyssey cards—wizards and reapers and various anthropomorphic animals. A guy about our age in an impressive wizard’s outfit strode over. His velvet robes dragged the floor and flowed down his arms. Why couldn’t Jasper have needed another wizard? At least this guy was covered. And warm. I shivered again.

“You were right. He is the perfect Neptune.” The wizard sized me up in a way that made me feel a bit like a bug under a magnifying glass, going as far as to circle me before reaching out to straighten my toga. It took all my restraint not to knock his hand away.

I settled for giving him a hard stare instead. “Uh. Hands off the costume.”

“Sorry.” Wizard guy shrugged. “Habit. I had fun altering this one.”

“You make the costumes?” My head tilted as I considered him again. He was tall and wide, built like a linebacker, and he had a scruffy beard. He was the sort of guy who probably grew his first beard in junior high, and his hands were bigger than mine. I had a hard time picturing him threading a needle.

“Some of them.” His grin had a lot of swagger to it.

“Kellan’s a theater major. You’ll be seeing his designs on Broadway someday.” Jasper slapped Kellan on the shoulder, pride clear in his voice. I had no business caring about their easy friendship, but knowing that wasn’t enough to stop an edge from creeping into my voice.

“Cool.”

“You’re shorter than our last Neptune. But I suppose you’ll do.” A petite red-haired elf gave me a regal nod. She had a mask embroidered with leaves covering her mouth and nose, and elbow-length gloves on as well.

“And this is April.”

“Oh. Right. Your sister.” The red hair should have tipped me off. But she’d been born when we were seven or eight, a surprise for the whole family, and had been little more than a preschooler when we’d stopped being friends. “You got big.”

“You probably remember her as a tiny—”

“Jasper.” She elbowed him hard enough that he winced. And now both her mask and Jasper’s interest in the hospital made more sense. She’d been born with some rare genetic blood disorder that impacted her immune system’s ability to fight off infections and had been hospitalized a lot as a kid, especially before they found out what was wrong.

“Sorry. Meet my super ancient and wise sister.”

“Dork.” April rolled her eyes before giving me another critical look. “I told Jasper to find us a Neptune and you’re not a bad look-alike, but you need to own it more. Like maybe don’t look like we’re asking you to chew glass.”

“Damn. You’re ice cold.” Kellan sounded impressed, and honestly, so was I. April had a lot of personality packed into a small package, and I liked how she wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was.

“Sorry.” Straightening my shoulders, I tried to force myself to relax. Mine was hardly the most outrageous costume in the group. And everyone else was laughing and joking and acting like this was the highlight of their week.

“Okay.” Jasper clapped his hands, the clear leader of this motley group. Like his sister, he had a natural take-charge quality to him that I’d always admired. Jasper got stuff done. “Everyone ready?”

No.No, I was not ready to see yet more people. And privately, I was a little worried about seeing sick kids. Unlike Jasper’s family, I didn’t have a lot of experience with small children in the hospital. I didn’t like the idea of kids being so close to something awful. I’d seen enough medical stuff myself the past few years to not want that for anyone, let alone a kid who should be out playing. My back tensed. I hoped I didn’t freak out. But everyone else was nodding and murmuring, so all I could do was mutter, “Sure.”

Jasper pursed his mouth and positioned himself next to me, almost like he expected me to make a run for freedom. But I wouldn’t. I said I’d do this, so I would, no matter how chilly my bare legs were and no matter how embarrassing this became. I’d stick it out so that I could earn Jasper’s help and maybe also so he’d stop expecting the worst where I was concerned. I didn’t fool myself into thinking we could be friends again, but I wouldn’t mind elevating myself in his opinion some. And if it took being Neptune to do that, then so be it.