One Verse Multi, page 28
* * *
I sat outside squeezing water and sand out of my locs while Wei and Tamar negotiated a phone at the first wireless store we found. We needed access to the internet right away. The hard part was that we had no bills in our name or credit history in this verse.
“You okay?” Kiki asked me. They plopped down next to me and handed me a small bag of Cheetos.
“Wow. Not very filling, but thanks.”
They shrugged, then opened the bag beside them. It seemed like they had gotten one of everything the convenience store had to offer.
“You’re a beautiful human,” I said with a smile.
“Once we know the verse, we know all the rifts. Well, you know all the rifts.”
“I also know the one natural rift into the dead-verse won’t open for years,” I said. I pulled the seams on the bag of Cheetos, and it tore, spilling Cheetos into my lap. Thankfully, the board shorts Wei had picked for me were bright orange. I ate what spilled.
“Wait a minute,” Kiki said. They looked at Mason, who was nervously watching Tamar and Wei in the store through the windows. He looked so unlike himself in a black snap-back instead of the beanie. “What about the rift VIP used to get there? If they made it, then it’s probably a weak spot, right? Because they had to force their way in. We could just trigger the rift with energy.”
Mason winced a little and sighed. “No. It won’t be there because I filled in their data in order to make their devices work.”
“Damn it.”
“Good thinking, though,” Luca said.
“So we find this verse’s Tidus,” Fern said. She was eating several corndogs out of a paper tray.
“Then we’ll at least know where we are,” Wei said. He trotted to the curb, triumphantly wielding the latest model of smartphone in a gold case.
“Time to get to work,” I said, holding my hand out for it.
“You’re going to make it gross with your food hand,” Wei cried, snatching the phone away.
I sighed and wiped my hands on some napkins from Fern. Wei placed the phone in my hands slowly. I sighed and thumbed it open. I started with the app store. The social media platforms themselves were all the same across the A-classes, but the names changed a lot. Sorting the app store by most popular social media always worked.
I made a new account, and I took a photo of me on the street with Kiki and our bag of trash snacks for the profile photo. Everyone else was mad, so I took a group photo for the banner. A few details later, and I had a new social media count. This site was called THRUSH and mostly shared videos. The nice thing about it was that people usually used their real names, or at least an accessible name, so I didn’t have to try and guess at a screen name Tidus might use, not that it was hard since most of them used Titan.
I searched for Tidus Allen Avery and he was fourth on the list based on the area.
“There he is,” I said. I opened the first video post. It was a short of him putting makeup on his eyes, and it was captioned Every day is eye day. He did have beautiful eyes. “It’s FAU Tidus.”
“Great. What’s the next closest verse that parallels the dead-verse?” Luca asked.
“We should go talk to him,” Mason said, nearly giddy with excitement.
We all looked at Mason.
“Why?” Tamar asked.
“To see if he recognizes Martin.” Mason grinned and explained, “I have a theory. Martin suggested other Tiduses know him because he carries FOX particles and that he is sort of minutely converging the here-verse Tidus with FOX Tidus. But based on the prox—”
“Mason,” Luca interrupted gently. “We aren’t here for data.”
Mason deflated.
“What if we could do something crazier than that?” Kiki said.
“Like?”
They looked around, the spell of their thoughts breaking. They rubbed their face and groaned. “It’s a fucking long shot, but what if we could use this Tidus to send a message to our Tidus?”
“What?” several voices said, mine included.
“Let’s do it,” said Wei.
“That won’t work,” I said. “When FAX Tidus remembered what I said to Tidus, there were months between those moments. We don’t have months.”
“But I think it’s speeding up,” Kiki said. “What was the name of the bar you were rescued from with FAX Tidus?”
“Neon.”
“When we were looking for you, we had pinpointed you to FAX-verse. Tidus knew that FAX Tidus had tapped into him before. And he joked about doing the same to try and help find you. He said you were probably with FAX Tidus at Neon.”
“So?”
“We never told him the name of the bar,” Kiki said. “I sent Hugo the name of the bar and that’s where he said he just found you.”
“That’s lucky?” I said, feeling both completely caught off guard and unsurprised.
“Or is it.”
“Sounds like a long shot,” Luca said.
“Right now it’s our only shot,” Fern said, “so when you think of a better plan, we’ll switch. Now find out where he is.” For emphasis, she held all six corndog sticks between her fists and snapped through them.
Kiki took the phone from me. “Would he be dumb enough to leave his location tags on?”
* * *
Apparently he was. We zeroed in on him at a club nearby. I didn’t tell anyone that the club overlapped with Neon in the FAX-verse geographically. We paid the cover and strolled right in, lucky no one was carded. I searched for Tidus. The crowd was thick with people in various states of dress. The club was loud and pulsing with lights, music, and a dance floor below a DJ station. The floor was the source of the lights, white two-foot by two-foot tiles, blinking in rhythm with the music.
“This is a bit too much for me,” Mason said.
“I’ll wait outside with you,” Fern said, and I felt them leave, their presence behind me becoming nothing but air.
“Oh, boy. I think I’m having a flashback,” Luca said.
“This place is amazing,” Wei said breathlessly. He tried to move away, but Luca caught him by the back of the beige and red parka he had decided to wear.
“Work, not fun.”
“Over there,” Tamar said, tapping my shoulder. I looked at where she pointed.
There he was. FAU Tidus. He was about a third of the way into the crowd on the dance floor, dancing with his eyes closed. He was barely dressed, wearing only a tight pair of shorts and fuzzy rainbow boots. I appreciated that the Pride flag on his shorts included the trans colors and the POC stripes. His face was painted with a green masquerade mask, and his hair flashed different colors with the lights, so it must have been dyed white.
“God damn,” I said. Some in the group agreed.
“I never thought anyone could out-gay me, but damn,” Kiki said.
“You have to go talk to him,” Luca said.
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Does it matter?”
“Kinda…probably.”
“Martin, every Tidus has been attracted to you, so it’s not like he won’t want to talk to you.”
“Not FAX Tidus.”
“FAX Tidus thought he had already hooked up with you.”
I turned to look at Luca. He was standing in a very bossy manner, arms crossed over his chest, chin tipped up, still holding on to Wei’s coat.
“What kind of boyfriend are you? Can’t you be jealous or something?”
“The man is seven feet tall, of course I’m jealous, but that’s not your Tidus, That’s FAU Tidus, and we fucking need his help. When this is over, I’ll be a better boyfriend. For now I’m your fucking boss, get the fuck over there.”
“It’s hot when you cuss.”
“Agreed,” said Tamar and Kiki.
“All right,” Luca said, glancing at Wei. “I’m going to get this one an incentive to behave. You go over there.”
“Send two drinks to that table,” I said, pointing. “Anything with the word ‘sunrise’ in it.”
“Deal,” he said to me. He let go of Wei, who immediately launched himself toward the bar. Luca followed.
“Five bucks says Luca gets hit on before we leave,” Tamar whispered to me. It wasn’t his usual polished look, but he looked handsome and neat. He had picked a loose long-sleeve cotton shirt and blue pinstripe shorts. With his messy hair and scruffy face, he was very much the Mediterranean heartthrob.
I shook her hand and crossed to the edge of the dance floor. I stood at a high-top table to try and figure out a plan. I watched Tidus dance. He looked like he knew the group dancing around him, occasionally brushing up against one of them. All the other guys seemed more occupied with each other than with him.
Then he opened his eyes and looked straight at me. I sensed a moment of indifference, then a moment of consideration. I did my best to smile and look away. I made eye contact with Luca at the bar and he gave me a stern look and a shooing motion with his hand.
“Buy me a drink?” Tidus asked.
The sound of his voice suddenly so close made me jump, but I played it off by laughing. He leaned across the table, his bare shoulders shining with body glitter.
“I already did,” I said. And thank fucking God the waiter appeared right on cue with both drinks. I would have to remember to tip him for amazing timing.
“God, I love this drink,” Tidus said, sipping the yellow and red cocktail through the straw.
“I thought you might.” I tried to lower my voice to draw him closer to me.
He took the bait and leaned in. “Do I know you?”
“Kind of,” I said.
“From? School?”
“No, I…close your eyes,” I said.
“What?”
“I’m going to describe the setting where we were last together, and you let me know when you know my name.”
He grinned and shrugged, closing his eyes, turning the painted-on mask into something eyeless and mysterious.
“Imagine you’re on a beach,” I said. I needed to test the immediacy of the connection between him and my Tidus. FAX Tidus had recalled something with weeks in between, but I hoped that the right trigger would enable FAU Tidus to recall the events from just a few hours ago. My Tidus had said he believed in energy, and I knew he was trying to reach out to me across the multi-verse, beg me to return for him. I hoped this Tidus could find him.
“Okay,” Tidus answered in a low breath.
“It’s not far from here. We’re sitting in the grass just at the edge of the sand. The sun is setting, but we can’t see the horizon. You’re wearing a costume that you take off piece by piece. We were talking about getting hoagies.”
“An Italian,” Tidus said.
“That’s right.”
His laugh died quickly, and his eyes snapped open. He put down the drink. The look he gave me was one of pure shock.
“What happened, Tidus? Did you remember?”
“No,” he said. “No, I—that doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does. It’s confusing, but a version of you remembers. A version of you is reaching out.”
Tidus laughed maniacally. “Damn it, you would be a crazy one.”
“You know I’m not crazy.”
“I don’t know you,” he said, but the look on his face said he knew something.
“Please just tell me what you remembered.”
“I didn’t remember anything. I couldn’t have. Leave me alone.”
He turned and crashed into the crowd. He pushed into the bathroom just as a drag queen wearing a sash and swimsuit came out. I followed Tidus in before the door closed behind her. He seemed scared for a moment, then he rallied and turned a steady glare on me.
“Tidus…”
“No, I’ll fucking defend myself,” he said, standing to his amazing full height.
“You’re right,” I said. “Those aren’t your memories. They’re the memories of someone very important to me. He’s particularly important to you too, and if you just give me a chance to explain, you’ll understand.”
He sighed. “Fine. Go ahead, tell me your crazy story and get the fuck out of my face.”
“Okay. I’m from a different reality—a different universe where you and I are dating.”
“That’s a new one, boldest pickup line yet.”
“It’s not a line. My Tidus is alone on the beach I described, the beach you could see in your own mind. Bad people threw me and my friends out of that universe. I need your help to get back to him.”
“Okay, I’ve heard enough. Do you really expect me to trust you?”
“No. I hoped you’d trust him.”
“You mean the other Tidus trapped in a different reality.” He ran a hand through his snowy blond hair. The glitter coating him created a gentle dust I could almost feel land on my skin. The look of irritation on his face was such a stark contrast to the pleasant sprinkle of shining color that I regretted coming.
“Okay, okay, Tidus. I’m leaving. I’m sorry I upset you. You—he—the other Tidus said once that in an adventure, when the hot guy says get in the car, you get in the car.”
Tidus laughed and crossed his arms over his chest, looking at me with a face that gave away his lie as he said, “You aren’t that hot.”
It was a Hail Mary. I’d hoped using a direct quote from Tidus would trigger something for FAU Tidus. I didn’t think it would work, but I had to be sure it wouldn’t before I went to regroup with the others. I almost laughed as he raised his eyebrows at me in clear challenge. Instead, I turned and left the bathroom. I found Kiki at the bar talking to some muscular woman.
“Where is everyone?” I asked them.
“Tam went outside with Mas and Fern, Luca is over there somewhere watching Wei, who wanted to dance.”
“It didn’t work. We should get out of here and find a plan B.”
“You can’t go,” the muscular woman said to Kiki.
Kiki laughed and shrugged. “Sorry.”
While Kiki wrapped it up with the woman, I looked around for Luca. He was at a table talking with a guy whose face was painted like Tidus’s. He had on rainbow leggings and black work boots. I started to cross to Luca but was surprised when Tidus beat me there.
“For fuck’s sake, Grayson, do you have to flirt with everyone’s boyfriend?” Tidus said.
“Excuse me?” Grayson snapped.
I stepped in behind Tidus and was listening. I knew the name Grayson. That was the ex who had cheated on my Tidus, and Bowser had ratted him out. It was weird seeing that guy, a guy I couldn’t understand at all with a Tidus. I clenched my fists so I wouldn’t do something stupid.
“What are you talking about? How do you know he’s dating someone?” Grayson asked.
“We have the same boy—” Tidus gasped and clamped his hands hard against his mouth. He spun around searching the crowd. When his eyes landed on me, only a step or two behind him, his eyes went wide.
“Martin,” he said. Then he turned back to Luca. “Luca.”
“Hey, Tidus,” Luca said evenly.
Section 27
What’s the number again
Tidus shoved Grayson away from Luca and considered him. “You’re dating Martin. And so is…?”
“Yup.”
“I think I need some air.”
“What’s going on, babe?” Grayson said, coming to his side.
Tidus considered Grayson as if searching his own memories. “Oh my God! You cheated on me—him—me.”
Grayson looked confused but not necessarily innocent. “What are you talking about? We aren’t together.”
“Are you kidding me?” Tidus took a step back. “I think I need to sober up.”
Instead of doing that, he took Luca’s drink and chugged it.
“Ew, was that just soda?”
Luca laughed, nodding.
“You’re so old,” Tidus said.
Then he stared at me hard. I didn’t move. I didn’t even try to smile. I just let him think about whatever it was he was thinking about. In a flash, his mouth was on mine, the kiss clumsy and familiar and different and altogether surprising.
“Um…” I said when he backed away.
“Shit, the other me isn’t going to like that. Tell him I’m sorry. I just needed to understand.”
“Tell him yourself.”
He blinked at me. “Can I do that?”
“I’m counting on it. You can hear him, right? You’re picking up on him. Well, I’m hoping he can pick up on you too. I need you to relay a message.”
“This…this is absolutely insane.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Grayson said.
“It’s above your pay grade, pal,” Wei said, laughing as he approached. Tidus just waved Grayson off.
“Well, this is a thing. So what do you want me to say?” Tidus asked.
I blinked. “Shit, I don’t know. I didn’t think we’d get this far.”
“He could call us,” Luca said. He mourned the loss of his soda by picking up the glass and looking at it.
“Sequencers don’t make calls.”
“No, but the phones on HQ do. They can call into any verse if you put in the verse code before the phone number,” Wei said.
“Wow, y’all are so serious about this,” Tidus said.
“It is serious,” Kiki said.
“The trick becomes finding a phone he can get to without getting caught,” Luca said.
“I know one,” I said.
“I think we should leave. It’s distracting,” Tidus said.
“Where are you going to go dressed like that?” Kiki asked.
Tidus laughed. “I have a coat.”
I paid the tab and left a three-hundred-dollar tip. Grayson watched us leave, stunned. We followed Tidus toward the door. Tidus’s coat was a white faux fur trench coat the same shade as his hair. He pulled it on and led the rest of us out of the club. Mason, Tamar, and Fern greeted Tidus as if they knew him, and he didn’t shy away. I could tell he couldn’t get a clear read on the others, but I could also tell something was telling him they were safe.
