"Now that we have that cleared up, re-introductions are in order. I'm Derek and I didn't catch your name."
The stranger held out his hand and replied, "I'm Jonathan Arlington but my friend's call me Nate. It's a pleasure to meet you, Derek."
Handsome with Southern charm, how am I supposed to resist this man? Now I had to think of a way to keep him here without my parents knowing of my magical mess. I decided that Jonathan, or Nate as he preferred to be called, would now be a transfer student that needed a place to stay. My parents, Will and Cassandra, would never turn away a stray. They were both doctors by day, and may have used their gifts to better the prognosis of their patients from time to time. I turned to Jonathan and told him the plan and he readily agreed.
***
It was rainy and miserable outside, as is typical of Seattle weather. Nate stood in the rain after being teleported by Derek clutching a suitcase, full of clothes his size, which the other man had conjured for him. To think that he had only minutes ago been standing in the hot Texas sun and now he was drenched to the bone as the heavens thundered above him while lightning lit up the darkened sky. Magic sure was overwhelming.
Though displaced and disorientated, Nate felt an overwhelming sense of calm wash over him. He was free. Free from the burden of taking over the ranch, free of the inevitable loveless marriage that he would be forced into and free of the judgemental stares that would follow him had his sexual orientation been made public. This freedom was bittersweet; though he had no close friends his parents meant the world to him, especially his mother. If Derek was telling the truth about the time they were in his parents were most probably dead, a thought so unimaginable and bizarre.
Nate was brought out of his reverie by a call from the above. He saw Derek poking his head out the window, his blue eyes almost glowing in the darkness.
"Push the button," called Derek.
Nate readied himself internally and rang the doorbell. He would just have to see where life would take him in this new world
***
I rushed downstairs as I heard the bell ring. While Nate was downstairs I explained to my parents that Nate attended a sister culinary institute and was transferred here from Texas for a few weeks (hopefully I'd figure out a way to send him back before then) to experience the city. As expected, they readily agreed to let him stay with us, though they were mildly peeved at the short notice given.
"I got it!" I called as I skid down the passage.
I threw open the door and grinned at Nate.
"Nice to see you again", he said, smilingly.
"Come on in, it's pouring outside," I said.
He looked equally delectable soaked from the rain as he did when he first appeared. His golden hair fell into his eyes leading him to reach up and brush it aside. I guided him to the living room where my family had congregated. I introduced Nate to the family and as he was talking to my parents, uttering the necessary courtesies in his adorable accent, my sister eyed me suspiciously. The look that she gave me said one thing: we are going to talk later. I gave her a hasty smile and then lead Nate to the guest bedroom.
"Well, it looks as though our little ruse has worked for now," I said, sighing and collapsing onto the bed.
Nate sat next to me, still wet from the rain.
